《Marvel: Xenomorphs》


 Chapter 1: Weyland Private Research Institute

    Blade opened his eyes once again.


    No matter how many times he came here or how familiar he was with the environment, as a half-human, half-vampire, he remained perpetually on guard.


    His hawk-like eyes scanned the dilapidated surroundings, brewing with menace. Occasionally, under the dim light, a flash of red betrayed his hybrid nature¡ªa visible hallmark of his vampiric side.


    Above him, the large, bold letters "Weyland Private Research Institute" hung on the decrepit building in front of him.


    The name itself screamed abnormality.


    What kind of lunatic, Blade wondered, would establish a temporary base in a condemned building slated for demolition in New York City and give it such a name, as if it were a hub for cutting-edge science?


    His ears twitched suddenly.


    Swish!


    Instinctively, Blade reached for the two katanas strapped to his back¡ªcustom-made weapons infused with silver.


    "I''d suggest putting those down. This is my territory, and there aren''t any vampires here for you to kill."


    The voice was steady, devoid of emotion, and soon after, a young man with black hair emerged.


    The man''s clean, youthful face suggested he was barely in his twenties. At first glance, he looked harmless, like an innocent rabbit.


    That impression, however, faded quickly when Blade noticed the peculiar creature beside him.


    "If you get that¡­ pet of yours to step back a few meters, maybe I''ll believe you," Blade said after a moment''s hesitation, releasing his grip on the swords.


    Still, his eyes, hidden beneath his sunglasses, stayed locked on the strange "pet," watching its every move.


    The creature stood around three meters tall, its sleek black body resembling a fusion of countless human vertebrae. Its elongated tail, exuding latent power, swayed slightly. The blade-like tip of the tail gleamed menacingly, capable of piercing through anything. Sharp claws dragged across the ground, leaving deep scratches that made Blade''s eyelids twitch.


    But the most striking feature was its head¡ªa bizarre, crown-like structure that seemed to carry some extraordinary symbolism.


    Blade had never seen anything like it. Why did it even have such a long head? The creature''s entire form seemed designed for combat, like the fevered dream of a sci-fi screenwriter.


    Using his enhanced vision, Blade noticed something new: the creature''s body was now coated with an unfamiliar viscous substance that hadn''t been there during their previous encounters.


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    The young man, apparently satisfied with Blade''s response, nodded slightly. His gaze lingered on Blade with an odd glimmer, his eyes roving over Blade''s chiseled chest, long legs, and muscular arms.


    ''What a masterpiece.''


    Blade frowned, a flash of instinctive caution crossing his face.


    ''Here we go again.''


    That look¡ªthe way the man''s eyes lingered¡ªmade Blade feel like he wasn''t being regarded as a person. He had every reason to believe this guy harbored¡­ peculiar tastes.


    Sensing the tension radiating from Blade, the strange creature beside the man moved. Its tail whipped forward at lightning speed.


    Too fast!


    Blade''s expression shifted slightly. He swung his katana instinctively.


    Clang!


    The impact made his hand tingle with numbness as he deflected the tail. A cold realization struck him¡ªdespite not using his full strength, his blade hadn''t been able to sever the tail, which was as hard as steel.


    When Blade looked again, the creature had vanished from the man''s side. Without a sound, it had climbed to the ceiling, its razor-sharp claws glinting ominously, poised to rip Blade''s skull apart.


    "My apologies. Force of habit," the man said quickly, raising his hands in a placating gesture. "You know how it is. Being a researcher and running this place alone is no easy feat. Sometimes, I get too engrossed in my work."


    "What''s its name?" Blade asked calmly, though inwardly unsettled by the ghostly creature now back at the man''s side, its movements reminiscent of a deadly assassin.


    "Xenomorph," the man replied.


    "Interesting name. So, it''s your institute''s most impressive creation¡ªa war machine."


    Blade, no stranger to the supernatural, had spent his life battling vampires and monsters of all kinds. Even that brief encounter was enough for him to assess the creature as a weapon and, by extension, the man as a mad scientist.


    The man didn''t deny it, though he thought privately: ''Most impressive? Hardly. Once it starts laying eggs, this xenomorph will quickly be outclassed.''


    Suppressing his inappropriate fascination with Blade''s ridiculously well-built physique, the man opened a briefcase. "Here''s what you wanted: a highly corrosive weapon¡ªdiluted, of course. Otherwise, you''d need adamantium to contain it. In a quiet, specific scenario, this will kill your enemies far more discreetly than UV grenades."


    Blade hesitated briefly before tossing a bag from his coat.


    "Hundred grand, as agreed," Blade said.


    The man whistled. "Vampire hunters are loaded, huh? Makes sense¡ªkilling vampires is expensive, what with all those silver bullets."


    "It''s not my money," Blade replied. "The more vampires I kill, the more I take from those bloodsuckers."


    With that, the exchange was complete.


    "I''ll spread the word about your product. This stuff is effective against vampires'' regenerative abilities," Blade said, stepping back with the case.


    "By the way, if you get the chance, bring me a live vampire," the man added suddenly.


    "Oh? Dealing with those things isn''t exactly wise," Blade said, raising an eyebrow.


    "I don''t have much choice. Time''s running out," the man replied cryptically.


    Blade didn''t press further. He disappeared into the night.


    "Blade, what a self-righteous zealot," the man muttered, watching Blade''s retreating figure before shutting the door.


    The Marvel Universe''s vampires were fascinating. Their origins weren''t tied to Dracula or Cain but to Varnae, a sorcerer who used the Darkhold to transform himself into the first vampire.


    The Darkhold''s author was none other than Chthon, the Elder God of chaos magic, a being far beyond the likes of Odin, or, Zeus, and the source of the Scarlet Witch''s powers.


    But such lofty entities were irrelevant for now. The man, a mere mortal trapped in this multiverse, had far more mundane concerns¡ªlike earning money through deals with Blade.


    The man glanced at the loyal xenomorph beside him and smiled.


    "Marvel did start publishing standalone Xenomorph comics before I transmigrated¡ªa pure sci-fi world without superheroes¡­"


    Lost in thought, he patted the xenomorph''s crown-like head. It lowered its head obediently, allowing his touch.


    Together, the man and the xenomorph descended into a crude, makeshift underground laboratory.


    There, amidst the dim light and rough walls, five white, mucus-covered eggs came into view.

 Chapter 2: Alien Blood is Still Blood!

    NOTE: Alien and Xenomorph will be used interchangeably. Later on, I only call them Xenomorph.


    ...


    The first time someone sees an Xenomorph egg, it''s common to feel a certain unease.


    However, this was not Duncan''s first time encountering one. Not only was he unafraid, but he also stepped forward, smiling as he reached out to gently caress the egg, feeling the pulse of life emanating from within.


    That''s right. Every Xenomorph, from the moment it is born, forms a psychic link with him.


    Normally, in the Xenomorph species, only the Xenomorph Queen possesses the natural ability to command all other Xenomorphs, even newborn Facehuggers, with absolute control. This authority is encoded in the Xenomorph''s genetic structure.


    "Absolute dominion... After my experiments, even the Queen is beneath me."


    Duncan looked at the Xenomorph beside him.


    The skull of a typical Xenomorph is smooth and elongated, but this Xenomorph''s skull was crowned, a symbol of authority and power.


    The Queen.


    Among the Xenomorphs, only one can lay eggs¡ªthe Queen.


    "Thank you for your hard work. You''ve spent so long evolving into a Queen and painstakingly laid these five eggs," Duncan chuckled.


    Xenomorphs are genderless. If the Queen dies or becomes isolated, the Xenomorphs will follow their genetic instincts, tapping into hidden factors in their DNA to spontaneously evolve into a Queen and gain the ability to lay eggs.


    Duncan had stayed with this Xenomorph for a long time, waiting for it to evolve into a Queen and lay eggs, which finally allowed him to breathe a sigh of relief.


    Xenomorphs are born for combat. They can parasitize without discrimination, inheriting their host''s best genes, making every Xenomorph theoretically stronger than the host.


    Five eggs, five Facehuggers to parasitize five creatures and evolve into fully grown Xenomorphs.


    Honestly, there was a moment when Duncan was tempted by the idea of using a warrior like the Blade as a host. This individual was already an extraordinary being. If he could get him, the Xenomorph bursting out would be incredibly powerful.


    But Duncan quickly dismissed such evil thoughts.


    "Let''s start with some cats and dogs, at least they''ll bolster my combat strength for now."


    Duncan glanced at the Queen, who was silently waiting for orders.


    Honestly, compared to the Queens in the movies, this one was pitifully small. It would need to be fed a lot of meat to recover and grow stronger.


    This led to a tragedy for the small animals nearby. For several nights, terrifying and swift shadows moved in the darkness, and with each flash of movement, life was extinguished.


    At first, it was just a single shadow, but over time, their numbers began to grow.


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    The savage killings intensified, the blood of various animals spilled across the earth, eventually coagulating into dark, mottled stains.


    Eventually, a few police officers arrived after receiving a report.


    "Chief, we''re here. According to the report, there''s been a mass disappearance of wildlife in the area," one young officer complained. "There''s so much work in the bustling neighborhoods of New York City, why are we wasting precious time on a case like this? Is it because those animal rights activists are hard to deal with?"


    "Don''t forget who we are," the more composed middle-aged officer, George Stacy, surveyed the surroundings.


    Moreover, the person who made the report wasn''t one of those so-called activists...


    "Ever since that self-proclaimed ''Iron Man'' playboy returned, our workload has increased."


    "Wake up. At least it''s better than staying in New York City. Trouble always seems to pop up there."


    "That''s right, at least we aren''t dealing with a bunch of armored idiots flying around."


    George remembered some news he had heard recently and silently clicked his tongue.


    Some information couldn''t be made public, but as an insider, he was aware of the details¡ªthere had been a massive explosion at Stark Tower recently, caused by two armored men fighting.


    From the results, it was clear the winner was Tony Stark, and the one who was knocked out was probably Obadiah Stane, the second-in-command of Stark Industries, who had since gone into hiding.


    After that incident, it seemed to have sparked some sensitive issues, with various cases cropping up, putting even more pressure on them.


    George returned to focusing on his work. He put on gloves, took out his tools, and began carefully collecting all the evidence in the area.


    "It''s so quiet, it''s a little too quiet. It''s like all the animals disappeared overnight."


    "There are scattered bloodstains on the ground. Someone must have attacked these animals."


    George frowned, as blood made him uneasy.


    Soon, they wouldn''t need to worry about this for much longer because someone was approaching.


    "Gentlemen, what are you looking for?"


    "Who are you? Show me your hands!" Several officers drew their guns, wary of the approaching figure.


    But the man didn''t stop; in fact, he moved closer, revealing sharp fangs in his open mouth, illuminated by their flashlights.


    The officers fired their guns immediately, but the bullets only left holes in the pale man''s body.


    Within moments, the wounds healed, and the bullets were pushed out by the regenerating flesh.


    Whoosh!


    The man moved swiftly, leaping over ten meters and sinking his teeth into one of the officer''s neck.


    "Vampire?" In a flash of insight, George thought of the possibility.


    "Chief, there''s more than one enemy!"


    Several more pale-skinned figures emerged, rushing to the officer who had been bitten, greedily feeding on him.


    The grisly scene sent shivers down the spines of the officers, and even though they fired, the bullets were ineffective in delivering any fatal damage.


    The leader of the vampires wiped his mouth, casting a playful glance at the officers, as if assessing them like a group of tasty meals.


    "It seems we''re not the only ones targeting this place. Why are NYPD officers here? I don''t recall assigning you to this case." He asked.


    "Pfft. Since when do vampires give us orders?" George took a deep breath.


    "Heh. You know nothing of our power. Since you refuse to speak, I''ll tell you this¡ªI''m not here for you."


    The vampire licked his fangs, his interest piqued not by these ordinary humans, but by the strong acid weapons that the Daywalker had procured from this area, and who had provided them.


    "It''s clearly corrosive, whether injected or detonated, it would be effective in killing certain mixed-blood vampires... but for some reason, I can distinctly smell blood in these liquids."


    As a member of the thirteen vampire clans, Dennis had a responsibility to strengthen his clan''s power. His base was raided by the Blade, many died, but it wasn''t a total loss.


    Whether intentional or not, the Blade didn''t try to hide his movements over the past few days, allowing Dennis to track him using security cameras and motorcycle traces, pinpointing several areas.


    Dennis was very interested in these strange blood-like liquids.


    As everyone knew, vampires derive energy from blood to enhance their strength, and any blood would suffice.


    But unfortunately, these peculiar liquids evaporated quickly upon contact with the air, offering him no opportunity to collect them.


    "Get rid of these food sources," Dennis waved his hand.


    "In this territory, killing without my permission¡ªwhat are you thinking?" A voice echoed from a distance.


    Under the flashlight''s beam, Duncan''s figure became visible over a hundred meters away.


    "Blade a real piece of work. I asked for a few vampires, not to handle it this way."

 Chapter 3: Long Live Peace

    It seemed there had been a misunderstanding between him and Blade.


    According to Duncan''s plan, he intended to quietly capture a few vampires. However, in Blade''s view, there was no need to capture anyone¡ªjust lure the vampires directly, and Duncan could handle the rest.


    "Six of them, huh? That''ll do," Duncan muttered to himself after counting the vampires. With his current abilities, taking on six vampires was more than manageable.


    George, watching the harmless-looking young man, grew frantic and shouted, "Run! These guys are dangerous!"


    "I know, I know," Duncan replied softly, deliberately ignoring the blood-soaked scene on the ground, as if he hadn''t noticed it at all.


    It made sense; it was nighttime, and they were about a hundred meters apart.


    One vampire lifted his head, blood dripping from his mouth, and rushed toward Duncan with excitement.


    Dennis sensed something was wrong but didn''t speak, instead observing closely with his keen eyesight.


    Predictably, the human would soon be pinned to the ground by the vampire, who would sink his fangs into his neck¡ªafter all, vampires were far superior to ordinary humans in terms of strength and speed.


    George''s face turned pale. He wanted to save the young man but knew all too well what kind of creatures vampires were. Yet, at this distance, it seemed too late to intervene.


    The vampire was just about to bite Duncan''s neck when¡ª


    Swish!


    A tail, gleaming with a silver sheen, suddenly shot out from the darkness. It grazed Duncan''s shoulder, stabbing forward with silent, lethal precision, aiming directly at the vampire''s face.


    "Chest," Duncan commanded calmly.


    The tip of the tail adjusted slightly, piercing through the vampire''s chest with a swift motion. Like a skewer threading meat, the vampire was impaled and lifted high into the air.


    A shrill scream erupted. Though the vampire''s vitality was strong enough to prevent instant death, terror mixed with disbelief filled his expression.


    What is this thing?!


    A faint clattering sound broke the tension.


    Moments later, several ghostly figures darted through the shadows, surrounding the vampires at close range.


    Dennis frowned, scrutinizing these strange creatures.


    "Four of them¡­ What are they?" he muttered in surprise.


    This place was a nexus of confusion: inexplicably arriving police, a peculiar human, and bizarre creatures.


    Dennis thought of the special blood he''d encountered before and used his enhanced night vision to study the alien-like beings.


    Upon closer inspection, they shared a general design but displayed subtle differences. Some were slightly bulkier, while others were slimmer, emphasizing speed and agility.


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    The only commonality was that all four creatures moved on all fours. Yet Dennis felt an unsettling vibe, as if these creatures, despite their similar appearances, were fundamentally different beasts wearing identical disguises.


    George and the others were equally stunned, their mouths agape at the scene unfolding before them. None of this was within their expectations.


    "You know Blade? So, you''re the one supplying him with those strange weapons," Dennis said.


    At this distance, even with their quiet tones, both sides could hear each other clearly.


    "Correct. But there''s been a slight hiccup. Killing you might help correct it," Duncan said, his eyes fixed on the vampire skewered by the alien''s tail.


    Fortunately, the vampire wasn''t dead¡ªjust a chest wound. If he was brought back in time, he could still be saved.


    "The liquid you provided Blade¡ªis it blood? Where does it come from? Don''t tell me you made it yourself¡­ or¡­" Dennis''s gaze shifted repeatedly between the aliens, his expression growing more puzzled.


    Though it sounded absurd, the more possibilities he ruled out, the more it seemed connected to these strange but powerful creatures.


    The sheer strength of the alien''s tail, effortlessly impaling a robust vampire, was proof enough of its extraordinary power.


    "Attack," Duncan ordered.


    The other three aliens sprang into action, lunging at the remaining vampires. The one closest to Duncan also joined the fray.


    The vampires immediately drew their guns and fired at the aliens.


    They were quick to assess the situation¡ªrealizing the aliens excelled at close combat, they opted to rely on firearms instead.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    The aliens began to sustain minor injuries, yet they seemed unfazed, continuing their assault. As they closed in, blood began to drip from their wounds, sizzling upon contact with the vampires'' bodies.


    "Ahhh! My foot''s burning!"


    "Be careful! Their blood is highly corrosive¡ªit''s like the weapons the Daywalker uses, but much stronger!"


    With their suspicions confirmed, the vampires were even more horrified.


    What kind of monstrosity is this?!


    Even their spilled blood could harm enemies¡ªthis defied reason. For such creatures to even exist was a nightmare in itself.


    It was as if these beings were born to be living weapons, designed solely for combat.


    Gunshots rang out incessantly. Some vampires, driven by rage, abandoned their firearms and charged into melee combat, only to realize their mistake almost instantly.


    One alien opened its mouth and spat a stream of corrosive blood directly at a vampire, incapacitating him in an instant.


    One by one, the vampires fell. Strangely, none of them died. Their limbs were brutally torn off, leaving them writhing on the ground in agony.


    The harder the vampires fought, the more injuries they inflicted on the aliens, and the more of the aliens'' corrosive blood splattered onto them, multiplying their suffering.


    Even Dennis was stunned. The aliens'' combat abilities left him speechless¡ªthey were well-trained, executing flawless tactics without any verbal or physical communication. Their individual combat prowess was formidable, and they were utterly fearless of pain or death.


    No¡ªon second thought, it wasn''t fearlessness. It was that their injuries and deaths served as weapons, a calculated aspect of their design.


    "Enough! Stop! I came here to negotiate!"


    Dennis shoved an alien off himself and, seeing his men incapacitated, shouted desperately. With a sweeping motion, he aimed at Duncan and fired.


    His aim was precise.


    But Duncan merely tilted his body slightly, dodging the bullet with ease.


    Dennis''s expression darkened as he fired again and again, yet not a single shot hit its mark.


    This wasn''t luck¡ªit indicated that Duncan''s physical capabilities far exceeded those of ordinary humans, at least in terms of heightened perception and reflexes.


    An alien pounced on Dennis, its corrosive blood seeping into his flesh. He let out a pained scream, filled with regret. He''d underestimated his opponent.


    He should''ve brought reinforcements.


    But even then, against such nimble and lethal enemies, it might not have made a difference.


    Most frustrating of all, Dennis still had no idea who his opponents were or what they wanted.


    "Six vampires¡ªexcellent," Duncan said as he walked over, unharmed, looking at the wounded yet living vampires with satisfaction.


    "You''re sparing us to negotiate? Fine, what do you want? Money? Status? Power?" Dennis asked, relieved that none of his men had died.


    As long as there was room for negotiation, there was hope for survival¡ªand possibly revenge later.


    "None of that," Duncan replied. "What I need is for you all to stay alive for the next few hours. I can''t wait to verify something crucial¡­ using you creatures who survive by feeding on human blood."


    His voice carried an unsettling curiosity, like the devil whispering in the dark.

 Chapter 4: The Bloodborne Xenomorph

    Dennis still hadn''t realized that falling into this man''s hands meant living a life far more painful than death.


    "Tell me your account, and I''ll wire you a lot of money!" Dennis, ignorant of the horror laced in Duncan''s words, spoke hastily. "No matter what your goal is, I can help you. I swear it on the name of my vampire clan¡ª"


    "Enough. Your clan, or whatever you call it, is worthless to me."


    Duncan cut him off and only began walking over after the battle had finally settled.


    Four Courier Xenomorphs against six vampires armed with firearms. Two of the Xenomorphs sustained minor injuries, which was still acceptable. After all, the Courier Xenomorphs were pitifully weak by nature.


    The Courier Xenomorphs were born by parasitizing lower mammals like cats, dogs, cows, and horses. They naturally moved on all fours, spending most of their lives this way, and occupied the lowest rung in Xenomorph society.


    While their attack power was the lowest, they were slightly more agile¡ªa benefit of their small size, standing about 2.2 meters tall when upright.


    Compared to Drone Xenomorphs and Warrior Xenomorphs, which couldn''t even walk upright until hours after chest-bursting, Courier Xenomorphs matured significantly faster.


    Their one redeeming feature was their ability to actively spit blood, something neither Drones nor Warriors could do.


    The four Xenomorphs here had been born from ordinary lower animals, so expecting much in terms of raw power would be unrealistic.


    Duncan glanced briefly at the officer who had been partially devoured.


    "If I were you, I''d finish him off immediately and blow his head apart," Duncan remarked. "His body is already infected with the vampire virus. He''ll slowly transform into one of them. Better to kill him before the change is complete."


    George still held his gun, his sole source of confidence.


    As for the young officers beside him? They were frozen in fear. For these rookies, this was their first glimpse into the darker corners of the world.


    "Vampires¡­ There really are vampires in this world¡­ And these monsters¡­" a young officer muttered, staring blankly at the carnage before him before retching violently.


    The vampires, impervious to bullets mere moments ago, had been skewered by the Xenomorphs, their blood and flesh splattering everywhere in a gruesome spectacle.


    "Vampires are just the beginning," Duncan said with a casual smile. "This planet is far more fascinating than you can imagine. Whether it''s demons or gods, nothing should surprise you."


    If one ignored the terrifying Xenomorphs surrounding him like an entourage for a king, Duncan could almost pass for a charming and approachable gentleman.


    "Sir, thank you¡ªand your¡­ companions¡ªfor saving our lives," George said, suppressing the pounding of his heart. The last few minutes had been overwhelming, and while he tried to steady his voice, a faint tremor betrayed his nerves. "I''ll make sure to handle my colleague with care."


    "Good. It''s always easier dealing with someone sensible. Officer, what''s your name?"


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    "George Stacy."


    Duncan stroked his chin thoughtfully. That name, at that age¡­ Yes, this must be Gwen''s father.


    "Sir, I still don''t know your name. What do you plan to do with these vampires?" George mustered his courage to ask.


    Drip. Drip. The steady sound of blood falling from the Xenomorphs¡ªsome vampire blood, some their own¡ªfilled the air.


    "You''ll learn my name eventually," Duncan replied dismissively. "For now, don''t come back here, no matter who orders you to. Whoever sent you here wants you dead."


    He waved them off nonchalantly.


    While Duncan wasn''t on the intellectual level of someone like Tony Stark or Shuri, he possessed basic deductive skills.


    "Chief, isn''t this guy keeping dangerous creatures? Isn''t that illegal?" one officer asked after wiping his mouth, only to start vomiting again.


    "Well said. I admire people with a sense of justice. But if you arrest Tony Stark first, I''ll start taking you seriously," Duncan quipped.


    With that, he walked away, disappearing into the darkness with his Xenomorphs, leaving behind a scene of chaos that bore witness to the extraordinary events that had just occurred.


    George looked down at his colleague''s mangled body, hesitated, then fired a bullet into his head.


    "Chief!"


    "Shut up. I know what I''m doing! This isn''t over. I''ll make that guy pay," George growled, his face dark with anger. He despised the person who had ordered him here, costing him a promising young officer.


    Supernatural incidents shouldn''t be handled by ordinary people ill-equipped to deal with them. At the very least, they should''ve been warned and given proper resources!


    "Chief, didn''t you say an animal rights group filed the report?"


    "I lied. If it were just animal rights activists, the department wouldn''t have sent us out here."


    As for how to officially close this case¡­ they''d chalk it up to vampires. It made sense¡ªthose bloodsuckers preying on small animals.


    And that stranger commanding bizarre creatures? Definitely another superpowered individual. He had, after all, saved their lives from the vampires.


    To Duncan, saving the officers was merely a minor detour. His real focus lay on the vampires he had captured.


    Along the way, he treated the vampires with surprising care, genuinely concerned about keeping them alive.


    This unusual kindness left the dying vampires bewildered. One even dared to suggest they could be saved if the Xenomorphs released them.


    Ignoring their pleas, Duncan brought them back to an underground lair. He directed the Xenomorphs to unceremoniously dump the incapacitated vampires onto the floor.


    Dennis scanned the surroundings nervously, realizing they were in what appeared to be a Xenomorph nest. The walls were coated with a slimy, organic substance, and a strange tube extended downward. Below it were three peculiar eggs, their occupants stirring with excitement at the newcomers'' presence.


    Just one glance at the eggs sent a chilling dread coursing through Dennis. He felt as though something horrifying had locked its gaze on him.


    "Six vampires. Let''s go one at a time," Duncan instructed.


    Gripping one vampire by the neck, he forced the creature toward one of the eggs.


    In an instant, the egg "bloomed," its top splitting into four petal-like sections. From within emerged a spider-like creature.


    A Facehugger.


    "Let me go! What are you doing?! Ugh¡­"


    The vampire couldn''t finish his sentence. The Facehugger latched onto his face, injecting an unknown substance into his body. Before long, his consciousness faded, and he slumped into a deep sleep.


    "What¡­ What are you doing?" Dennis stammered, unable to comprehend the horrifying scene before him.


    "You''ll find out soon enough."


    Duncan carefully monitored the connection between himself and the Facehugger, confirming the parasitism''s success. He was ecstatic.


    This was a groundbreaking achievement¡ªthe first successful parasitism of a unique host.


    Now, it was just a matter of waiting.


    Duncan had endless patience, much like the Xenomorphs. He could wait silently for as long as it took to deliver a decisive blow.


    Finally, the vampire awoke, disoriented. He shook his head and casually tossed aside the Facehugger''s remains.


    "What did you do to me? And why is this thing dead?"


    "Vampire, you should atone for every human you''ve killed. But take solace in the fact that you''ve given me your strong body. I''ll put it to good use."


    Under the watchful eyes of the Xenomorphs, Duncan raised a finger and pointed at the vampire.


    What happened next horrified the remaining vampires.


    The vampire''s chest bulged unnaturally before a grotesque creature burst forth, tearing through flesh and bone in a violent birth.


    The vampire''s screams of agony were music to Duncan''s ears, his spasms the perfect dance of despair.


    A new Xenomorph, infused with the finest vampire genetics, was born.


    As it let out its first piercing screech, it announced the arrival of a new, boundlessly powerful species into the world.

 Chapter 5: Whose Man Is He?

    Duncan made no effort to hide his delight as he observed the creature possessing vampire genes, naming it the "Blood Xenomorph."


    Compared to terms like "Reverse Breed," the name was unremarkable, but it held its own when compared to more specialized Xenomorph types like the "Winterbeast Xenomorph."(also known as Ice Xenomorph).


    The Blood Xenomorph had the standard appearance of a Drone Xenomorph: it walked upright, stood about 2.5 meters tall, and had a sleek, elongated head with a smooth surface. Its back sprouted numerous enigmatic tubes, resembling technological interfaces meant for large machinery. Its entire body was encased in exoskeletal armor, which was both durable and impact-resistant. Even large-caliber firearms would struggle to inflict serious harm on it.


    After all, even a Drone Xenomorph born from parasitizing a regular human could survive hits from such weaponry without sustaining fatal injuries.


    Furthermore, the Blood Xenomorph could absorb energy directly through blood, unlike regular Xenomorphs, which needed to consume vast quantities of flesh to sustain themselves.


    "In terms of functional hierarchy, the Blood Xenomorph undoubtedly corresponds to the Drone Xenomorph introduced in Alien, a tier higher than the Messenger Xenomorph in its social ranking."


    Duncan admired his creation, while the vampires around him were paralyzed with fear.


    "What... what the hell is this thing?"


    "Parasitic?!"


    They recalled the series of terrifying events: a face-hugging spider emerged from an egg, latched onto a victim, died mysteriously, and then, after the host lost consciousness, a grotesque humanoid creature burst from their chest and grew rapidly.


    The sequence had a certain logical progression and causality, yet the more they thought about it, the less it made any scientific sense.


    At that moment, the vampires finally understood why Duncan had been so concerned about their survival.


    But it was too late.


    After confirming the success of the parasitic process, the remaining two Xenomorph eggs hatched and completed their parasitic cycles.


    Dennis, still clinging to a shred of hope, tried to bargain. He pointed out that Duncan had only three eggs and could parasitize only three vampires. What would happen to the rest?


    Surely they wouldn''t be used as mere food?


    Duncan reassured him with a smile, saying he wouldn''t waste them as food. However, he added with a chilling tone, "Don''t worry, none of you are getting away."


    At that moment, deep within the cavern, a previously dormant presence stirred. The Xenomorph Queen, silent and unmoving until now, suddenly activated. Before everyone''s eyes, she began to lay an egg directly from her ovipositor.


    "So that''s what that tube is for."


    Dennis broke down. As the face-hugger leaped toward him, he lost consciousness in despair.


    Not long after, six Blood Xenomorphs, far stronger than their vampire hosts, stood obediently before Duncan.


    Hungry and ravenous, they waited for his permission before devouring the remains of their hosts.


    "All the small animals in the area have been eaten," Duncan mused. "It looks like I''ll need to find another way to ensure a steady food supply¡­"


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    Soon after, several food companies in New York City began receiving unusually large orders.


    The next few days were unusually calm, with no vampires coming to seek trouble. Perhaps they had concluded that their missing brethren had been slaughtered by Blade.


    However, Duncan noticed a new development: a group of people moved into the abandoned building next door during the daytime and set up a meat shop on the spot.


    Their brazen and unconvincing act of surveillance amused Duncan.


    "Surveillance these days is really this blatant?"


    "Hey, guys, you know these two buildings are slated for demolition, right? I heard they''re going to build a big office complex here," Duncan called out to them.


    "Yeah, we know. But until the demolition officially starts, running a meat business here seems pretty lucrative."


    Duncan nodded in agreement but quipped, "Then why does your ''cooked meat shop'' only sell raw meat?"


    This time, the agents didn''t respond.


    Duncan speculated that cooking the meat would increase costs, impacting their budget. Claiming to sell cooked meat while only offering raw meat allowed them to stretch their funding further.


    The "meat shop owner," however, felt extremely unlucky.


    As a cheap clone of Dum Dum Dugan, he mimicked the behavior of an eighth-level agent, casually telling people he was FBI. When encountering FBI agents, he''d claim to be CIA. When dealing with the CIA, he''d say he was FBI. Only when both agencies compared notes and started arguing would he reluctantly admit to being a S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.


    After all, nobody really remembered what S.H.I.E.L.D.''s full name stood for or what the organization even did.


    But this time, he had the misfortune of running into a meticulous and somewhat influential individual¡ªGeorge Stacy.


    Damn it! All Stacy did was delegate the initial investigation to the local police department, a routine procedure.


    If S.H.I.E.L.D. had to investigate every single suspected supernatural event worldwide, they''d be overwhelmed. Even if Dum Dum Dugan''s original body created countless memory-sharing clones, they''d still be stretched thin.


    With no choice left, the clone had to handle things personally.


    The only silver lining was that their target, protected by Blade, wasn''t some indiscriminate killer. At the very least, he had basic principles.


    "What level agent are you?"


    The target, now leaning out of a decrepit, drafty window, shouted the question.


    "Yesterday I was level three; today I''m level two," the clone replied, uncertain whether this mission could be considered a success or failure.


    After all, he was just an expendable clone.


    At least things were progressing in an orderly fashion. No need to call for reinforcements yet¡ªthat was something.


    And maybe, just maybe, he could squeeze some extra funding out of that stingy bald man.


    Duncan scrutinized the agent across the street and confirmed his identity as someone from S.H.I.E.L.D.


    As a special organization monitoring global superhuman activity, S.H.I.E.L.D. had the backing of the five major powers. It was their job to keep tabs on exceptional individuals.


    That this agent was so honest surprised Duncan.


    "Blade''s definitely in contact with S.H.I.E.L.D. He might already be a senior agent."


    Blade, after all, would one day become a level ten S.H.I.E.L.D. agent.


    And Duncan''s dealings with Blade had come to S.H.I.E.L.D.''s attention was no surprise. The existence of Xenomorphs would eventually be exposed¡ªit was impossible to hide forever. This openness prevented S.H.I.E.L.D. from labeling him a high-risk individual, at least for now. And "for now" was exactly what Duncan needed.


    Duncan appreciated honest people¡ªthey saved him from overthinking.


    Especially since he''d learned that the man watching him was named Dum Dum. That made it clear who he was dealing with.


    Dum Dum, a level ten agent, shared a single memory archive with his clones, making him an indispensable workhorse for S.H.I.E.L.D.


    Duncan didn''t mind the close monitoring. In an age where superhumans weren''t rare, S.H.I.E.L.D.''s role in investigating and assessing extraordinary individuals was expected.


    If the target posed no threat and their abilities weren''t overly dangerous, S.H.I.E.L.D. would document the information and withdraw its personnel. As long as no crimes were committed, they wouldn''t interfere further.


    ...


    Nick Fury, expressionless, read the report in his hands.


    "The target is suspected of conducting secret biochemical experiments, using Blade to secure funding?"


    "Yes. According to some officers, he commands strange but powerful creatures and has captured a few vampires alive."


    "No, that''s not my concern," Fury said, tapping the desk with increased intensity. "What I want to know is how someone like this registered a legitimate biotechnology company and is conducting legal experiments?"


    He emphasized the word legal.


    Those bizarre creatures were worth attention. In a world crawling with maniacs, anyone bold enough to reveal themselves had to be dealt with carefully.


    Fury''s meaning was crystal clear as he glared at his old colleague, Dum Dum:


    "Whose man is this Duncan?"

 Chapter 6: Duncan Is Worth the Price!

    Dum Dum sifted through the shared memory archives in his mind and found a report uploaded by one of his hundreds of clones. He spoke honestly: "As far as I know, he doesn''t belong to anyone. I couldn''t find any traces of outside interference in any of his actions."


    "Good. Let''s reanalyze the report you gave me. You spent a week confirming that this person, capable of using unknown methods to create biochemical weapons, trading openly with Blade, and attacking vampires, has one major suspicious trait¡­ he might prefer raw meat over cooked?" Fury''s voice carried heavy sarcasm.


    Dum Dum forced a smile. "If I say that''s not my conclusion, would you believe me?"


    He knew this answer was so bad it could only come from a mind crushed by a door.


    "I believe you," Fury replied coldly. "In fact, I''m more inclined to suspect that the one standing in front of me isn''t your main Level-10 body, but a clone whose competence doesn''t even match that of a Level-2 agent."


    Fury stared at Dum Dum. The guy couldn''t even muster up the energy to suggest something as absurd as "he uses his cute pet animals to eat raw meat."


    Encountering a lazy clone was unlucky enough, but getting one that couldn''t think at all? That was infuriating.


    Dum Dum lowered his head, thinking about how to deceive Fury into believing the faulty memory shared by his archive.


    "Alright," Fury said, breaking the silence. "I roughly understand the situation now. Tell your main body to shift focus back¡­ just a bit."


    "Understood. But I can''t guarantee my main body will review the information I upload in time."


    Fury''s forehead throbbed. Were it not for the weakened version of the super-soldier serum in his system, he might have had a stroke.


    "Based on the intelligence we have, combined with Blade''s information, this person can be approached but not trusted for now. He''s the legal owner of a company, exploiting legal loopholes by claiming to conduct biological research, supposedly developing a cure for mutants. Who approved such nonsense?" Fury demanded.


    It sounded utterly idiotic.


    Dum Dum scratched his temple, searching through his memories for something useful, or at least a lie that could prove he wasn''t an incompetent clone.


    "Because recently, there have been many scammers using similar excuses to get government funding."


    A voice interrupted their exchange. A man approached with a calm, self-assured gait and a faint, peculiar smile. It was Coulson.


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    "Compared to those scammers," Coulson said, "this one is a graduate of Zurich University with a degree in genetics. At least he has some solid academic papers to bolster his credibility. That said, he didn''t manage to secure funding¡ªonly a plot of land for experimentation. However, the interesting part is that there''s a record of government funds being transferred to Weyland Biotech."


    "Corruption. Disgraceful!" Fury slammed his fist on the table, flipping it over with his superhuman strength. "Who''s in charge of this? How could they let it happen?"


    "Colonel Stryker," Coulson replied calmly.


    "Oh."


    A brief silence followed.


    Dum Dum tapped his head and said, "I just reviewed a memory. A clone monitoring the target reported a robbery at a cooked food warehouse. It seems the target ran out of money and had to resort to direct methods. More importantly, he even stole back the money he''d paid the clone¡ªprobably intending to use it for the next food purchase."


    "I see," Fury said, narrowing his eyes. "So this raw meat enthusiast robbed your cooked food warehouse. Let me get this straight¡ªhe''s so terrifyingly criminal that he can''t even distinguish between raw and cooked food?"


    Dum Dum''s face stiffened.


    Coulson interjected. "Blade conducted three transactions with him, totaling only $200,000. Unfortunately, Blade refused to hand over the biological samples, denying us a chance to study them. Not that it matters¡ªthe corrosive nature of the blood would make research nearly impossible. It can dissolve even high-grade alloys. The design itself seems aimed at countering reverse genetic decoding. Even the diluted samples Duncan provided were potent."


    Coulson was still unfamiliar with the characteristics of the Xenomorphs. Even if Duncan created artificial ones through genetic fragments, those creatures wouldn''t obey him. Instead, they''d wreak havoc in S.H.I.E.L.D.


    "Blade is a formidable warrior, but not an ideal agent. He has his principles, and when he''s stubborn, there''s nothing you can do. Let''s do this: allocate another $200,000 to your clones for research funding," Fury instructed.


    With a wave of his hand, Fury approved the funds, adding, "And remember to bill the Big Five nations for $2 billion. Tell them to wire the money immediately."


    "Boss, I doubt they''ll believe that a quirky scientist who barely handles a few vampires is worth $2 billion," Dum Dum pointed out, his sharp observation surfacing.


    "Impossible," Fury declared firmly. "If he can create such powerful, unknown biological entities that can even defeat vampires, he''s worth the price."


    But what Fury truly thought was another matter.


    In his eyes, Duncan''s work, while novel, was only marginally promising in the field of biotechnology. It might take years, even decades, before any groundbreaking advancements emerged that made him truly valuable.


    S.H.I.E.L.D. was privy to countless secrets that could determine humanity''s survival. They also had access to many special powers¡ªwhether undersea, in K''un-Lun, on the moon, through sorcerers, demons, celestials, icebergs, black dragons, or aliens.


    So for now, Duncan wasn''t worth Fury''s personal attention.


    "Keep monitoring him. Focus on assessing his psychological state. Verify whether his personality is stable and trustworthy before making further decisions."


    There was no way surveillance would cease. Duncan''s abilities weren''t as simple as breathing fire or spewing water; they were advanced enough to commit major crimes effortlessly. Monitoring was inevitable.


    Because in this world, the truly dangerous aren''t just those with special powers but also those with exceptional intellect.


    "Coulson, give me an update on your side," Fury said, swiftly moving on. Spending a few minutes discussing Duncan was already exceptional. Other matters demanded his attention.


    Coulson''s smile faded slightly. "Not great. After his father''s death, Banner went into hiding for a while. He''s now been located and is being pursued worldwide."

 Chapter 7: No One Understands Vampires Better Than Me

    Duncan always knew that S.H.I.E.L.D.''s patience had its limits, but for some reason, they never took further action.


    "Are they that well-funded?" he wondered.


    Life went on as usual. Duncan and Dumdum maintained their tense coexistence as neighbors, occasionally playing Robin Hood¡ªspending and re-spending the same stack of cash, seemingly enjoying the repetition.


    "The Queen has laid a total of 14 eggs so far. Two haven''t hatched yet, but the others have produced 11 Xenomorphs," Duncan said, counting his forces on his fingers while keeping an eye on their mental states.


    This bordered on a unique form of telepathy.


    During this time, Duncan didn''t leave his home until Blade, unable to hold back, came knocking again.


    "You know I hate coming to your place," Blade said as he walked in, adjusting his sunglasses. He glanced around and spotted a few Xenomorph couriers but not the crowned Xenomorph Queen. "And now you''ve got even more pets. How do you manage that?"


    "How do you manage to make vampires so miserable all by yourself?" Duncan shot back.


    "Power. I''m strong," Blade replied bluntly.


    "That''s my answer, too. I''m strong, so I believe I can achieve extraordinary things."


    Blade didn''t buy it. He assumed Duncan must have cultivated these creatures long ago and was only now releasing them.


    "Get to the point. Why are you here? I probably won''t sell you any more acid," Duncan said.


    "I don''t need it. I took down a punk who called himself the Blood God. Your weapons were a big help. But now, some vampires suspect you and are plotting against you."


    "Let them come. Maybe wiping vampires off the face of the Earth is a good idea," Duncan mused, seriously considering the notion.


    Blade''s eyes narrowed. "Are you serious? That''s nearly impossible¡ªunless you can engineer a vampire virus. But plenty of people have tried that over the years with little success. You''d have better luck with your mutant-targeted serum."


    "Hah, you think dealing with mutants is easier than dealing with vampires?"


    "No, it''s harder. Mutants are more complex and pose bigger problems. Focusing on them would yield greater rewards, which is why most scientists go in that direction. Vampires are just parasites leeching off humanity," Blade replied.


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    Duncan smirked and set the tone for the conversation. "Then I''ll let my power ''leech'' off the vampires."


    Blade silently noted Duncan''s apparent disdain for vampires¡ªpossibly due to a form of human supremacist ideology. Or perhaps he was faking it, motivated purely by the benefits of hunting them.


    But what benefits? Aside from their hoarded wealth accumulated over centuries, vampires offered little else.


    Finally, Blade got to the point. "I need your help with something."


    "Are you asking on your behalf or on behalf of your team?"


    "I haven''t officially joined them yet, so it''s me. Reliable people are hard to find," Blade said, his expression unwavering. "I got intel about a crazy general obsessed with the super-soldier program. He''s even mobilized troops to capture a certain green, walking blood bank."


    "You want me to deal with that green guy? That''s no small feat. A few months ago, I saw some reports about him online," Duncan said.


    Blade gave Duncan a peculiar look, shocked by his imagination. "What makes you think you could even get involved with the Hulk? That guy could shatter your pets with just a roar."


    Was Duncan crazy? Or were today''s young people simply this reckless?


    "Well, I''m lucky to have you remind me," Duncan said, nonchalantly.


    Blade studied Duncan''s expression, trying to determine if his confidence came from ignorance or if he was hiding something. He leaned toward the former¡ªanyone familiar with the Hulk''s power would be awestruck. A green titan capable of casually tossing hundreds of tons around, whose strength only grew with anger, was beyond comprehension.


    "I''m not asking you to fight the Hulk," Blade clarified. "I''m after those who covet his bloodline. Your little pets seem agile and combat-ready. They could help take some of the pressure off."


    "But why should I get involved in such a dangerous affair? Just because someone''s assessing my threat level?"


    "Look, I don''t know how much you''ve figured out, but doing what you can within your abilities won''t hurt. Your power hasn''t reached a level that truly scares them, but they won''t let you act freely, either. You''re smart¡ªyou probably anticipated this when we first traded," Blade said.


    He stared into Duncan''s eyes. "You''re deliberately showcasing your talents, aren''t you? Maybe it''s time to expose yourself a little. Using their resources to grow stronger is a solid move."


    "Don''t get me wrong. I have no intention of joining you guys. I''m just giving back to society," Duncan replied with a dismissive wave. It was true that he would have to take this step eventually, and using Blade as a springboard seemed like the perfect opportunity.


    Taking a file from Blade, Duncan skimmed through it quickly. He soon understood S.H.I.E.L.D.''s real focus.


    Their primary target wasn''t the Hulk but rather Mr. Blue, who had already conducted genetic experiments on the Hulk''s blood.


    Blade''s attention was on Mr. Blue because of his ties to a special vampire¡ªBaron Blood. There was likely a troublesome blood trade happening, making him a target for elimination.


    From Blade''s perspective, who knew what horrors could result if top-tier vampires consumed Hulk''s blood? It was too dangerous.


    "Got it. You want me to track and intercept Mr. Blue, right?" Duncan asked. "Let''s be clear¡ªmy services don''t come cheap."


    "One million dollars."


    "Two million. This is life-threatening work. Plus, I want all the intel you have on vampire populations and strongholds," Duncan said.


    Blade gave Duncan a long, meaningful look. Asking for such comprehensive intel suggested either recklessness or immense ambition.


    What exactly was it about vampires that fascinated Duncan?


    Blade couldn''t understand the correct "use" for vampires, but Duncan believed he did.


    They were numerous, individually strong, and capturing them was profitable.


    What could possibly be more rewarding than hunting vampires?


    If not vampires, then who else? Mutants?

 Chapter 8: Aliens Love Team Fights

    Blonsky, an elite soldier and a true man of ambition, believed that real men should be big and powerful¡ªjust like the Hulk.


    To Blonsky, the Hulk represented the ultimate masculinity: growing larger when stimulated and becoming even stronger when injured.


    Blonsky deeply admired the Hulk, and what better way to honor something than to study it and become it?


    And so, that''s exactly what he did.


    "Let me be clear, this serum is not perfect. If anything goes wrong¡­" a thin, cautious scientist began to say.


    "Enough! I know what I''m doing. If you keep wasting my time, I''ll kill you!"


    Blonsky''s impatience flared. "Inject it now! I want to be stronger than the Hulk!"


    Hearing this, Mr. Blue couldn''t help but shake his head subtly. Stronger than the Hulk, just by injecting a serum derived from his blood? What nonsense. Such a thing simply wasn''t possible.


    Even hybrid experiments required generations of careful selection and refinement.


    But Blonsky didn''t care. The soldier had clearly lost his mind, and Mr. Blue didn''t mind enabling the madness. He gladly injected the serum into Blonsky''s body.


    As an online acquaintance of Dr. Banner, Mr. Blue had experimented extensively with Banner''s blood, storing samples of Hulk''s DNA for his research. Now, Blonsky was the perfect test subject to validate his findings.


    "The Hulk is far stronger than I anticipated," Mr. Blue muttered to himself. "My intellect isn''t advanced enough to fully tap into the potential of his blood. This is troubling¡­"


    Still, Mr. Blue had his own plans. Once the injection was complete, he intended to disappear and hide for a while.


    "If you manage to keep your wits about you, come find me again. Maybe we''ll have another chance to work together."


    Mr. Blue said this aloud, but in his heart, he doubted Blonsky would survive. The man simply wasn''t equipped to handle the serum''s power. At best, he''d suffer a genetic mutation, be captured, and spend the rest of his life as a lab rat in some government facility.


    And then it began.


    Blonsky roared in agony as his body began to transform. His frame expanded, smashing through the ceiling, his skin taking on a reptilian texture. Spikes erupted from his spine, sharp and menacing.


    "Power¡­ this is power!"


    Blonsky was ecstatic, feeling the surging energy within him. His face twisted into a grotesque grin.


    But with this newfound power came an overwhelming rage, an emotion that blended with Blonsky''s own thoughts to form something new¡ªhatred.


    Blonsky christened his new, superhuman self "Abomination," a name symbolizing his determination to reclaim the dignity he believed the Hulk had stolen from him. Killing the Hulk would prove he was the strongest.


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    "Abomination, huh? Well, I don''t think you''ll get the chance to take revenge on the Hulk, because I''m here."


    Several Xenomorphs crashed through the windows, moving with uncanny agility as they climbed walls and scurried across the floor, surrounding Abomination.


    Mr. Blue flinched, his attention shifting from Abomination to these mysterious creatures.


    As a biologist, he immediately recognized that these beings were not natural¡ªat least not natural to Earth. No terrestrial organism had an exoskeletal body structure like these, nor did any look so... alien.


    One glance was all it took to captivate Mr. Blue, slowing his attempt to escape.


    When a Messenger Xenomorph crouched nearby, its eyeless head seemingly "staring" at him, Mr. Blue froze. Pressing himself against the wall, he moved cautiously, trying to distance himself from both the crazed Abomination and these otherworldly creatures.


    "Did Ross send you?" Abomination sneered. "What a joke. He used to be my general, binding me with his ridiculous rules. Now it''s my turn to control him. I''m stronger than him!"


    "You''re stronger than him? That''s great. If I''m stronger than you, taking everything from you is only fair, don''t you think?"


    Duncan''s voice was cold and mocking. His sharp gaze lingered on the hulking Abomination, studying him like prey.


    Truthfully, Abomination was hideous¡ªfar more grotesque than the Hulk. But Duncan didn''t mind.


    "What''s with that look in your eyes?" Abomination growled.


    "Admiration," Duncan replied. "In my eyes, when you transform, you become truly¡­ beautiful."


    Abomination froze for a moment, baffled. Then he decided this tiny figure was insane and raised a foot to crush him.


    "Beautiful? Ugly? I thought I was losing my mind earlier, but you''ve clearly gone mad long before me."


    A sinister grin spread across Abomination''s face, his jagged teeth glinting as he anticipated the satisfying crunch of flesh beneath his foot.


    Boom!


    The ground shattered beneath his stomp, leaving a massive crater¡ªbut no Duncan.


    "You couldn''t even hit me? And you think you''re ready to fight the Hulk?"


    Duncan darted away at superhuman speed, motioning to the Xenomorphs. Immediately, more of them emerged, encircling Abomination and launching a coordinated attack.


    Though the Xenomorphs were no taller than three meters¡ªdwarfed by Abomination''s towering four-meter frame¡ªtheir numbers gave them an advantage.


    Eleven Xenomorphs charged, their deadliest among them, a Blood Xenomorph, leading the assault. Its tail lashed out, aiming for Abomination''s eyes.


    "Is this a joke? You think these things can stop me?"


    Abomination had never seen anything like the Xenomorphs, but he wasn''t afraid. Laughing maniacally, he grabbed one that had been a fraction too slow. With a vicious grin, he squeezed.


    Snap!


    But instead of a spray of red, a torrent of green gushed forth.


    Not the Hulk''s green¡ªbut something far deadlier.


    The acidic blood burned through Abomination''s hand like fire on paper. He howled in agony.


    The pain was unbearable, far worse than anything he had endured before. Even his super-durable skin, which could withstand rocket explosions, offered no defense against the corrosive acid.


    Sizzle!


    His skin dissolved, exposing bone that began to crack under the acid''s relentless assault.


    Fortunately, Abomination''s powerful regenerative abilities kicked in, and his wounds began to heal visibly. But the Xenomorphs didn''t waste the opening.


    More of them leaped forward, attacking relentlessly.


    Several Messenger Xenomorphs scuttled along the walls, spitting streams of acid that left deep scars on Abomination''s hide.


    Abomination roared in fury, lashing out. Any Xenomorph he managed to grab lost limbs¡ªor worse. Only the Blood Xenomorph could withstand his strikes, thanks to its superior durability.


    "What the hell are these things?"


    Despite killing three Xenomorphs, Abomination was struggling.


    Their teamwork was impeccable. Whenever he focused on one, the others exploited his distraction to attack, forcing him to either switch targets or endure more injuries.


    Abomination managed to grab another Xenomorph, but this time it came at a cost.


    A Blood Xenomorph lunged forward, its inner jaw shooting out like a bullet. The razor-sharp appendage pierced Abomination''s eye, yanking out the orb in a spray of blood.


    Abomination howled in pain, thrashing wildly as the Xenomorph latched onto him, feeding on his blood to recover its own injuries.


    "Now''s the time. Go for the facehugger attack," Duncan commanded from a safe distance, having waited for this precise moment.


    This was why he had joined Blade''s risky mission¡ªto seize this critical opportunity.

 Chapter 9: Successful Facehugging

    From beginning to end, Duncan never positioned himself as the "good guy."


    It was simple: he wasn''t cut out to be a superhero.


    This wasn''t because he lacked a basic understanding of right and wrong, but rather due to the nature of his power¡ªhis connection to the Xenomorph species. The moment the truth about his ability to parasitically consume a host and transcend its power through chest-bursting reproduction came to light, he would never be accepted by certain groups in this world.


    If exposed, even the most righteous of superheroes would fear and remain vigilant against him.


    That was why, from the very start, Duncan had half-heartedly joined this operation, his sights set solely on Abomination.


    Blade¡ªor more accurately, S.H.I.E.L.D., which was currently assessing him¡ªwould undoubtedly believe that this mission was Duncan''s way of accepting their extended olive branch. They''d see it as him showcasing goodwill and drawing closer to them.


    According to the usual trajectory, a morally inclined individual like Duncan, willing to risk himself for S.H.I.E.L.D.''s mission, would be evaluated and deemed a potential candidate for one of their specialized teams. Perhaps, one day, Duncan might even join the ranks of their elite squads¡ªnot necessarily the Avengers, as S.H.I.E.L.D. managed numerous special teams, with the Avengers being just one of many initiatives in the works.


    This was the normal course of things, and Duncan indeed matched the "special aesthetic" some individuals sought: possessing exceptional powers, intelligence, and a clean background. He was, in theory, the perfect candidate.


    Unfortunately, it was all a fa?ade¡ªpredicated on the assumption that they remained ignorant of the horrifying reproductive methods of the Xenomorph species and their unquantifiable growth potential.


    "Becoming a superhero is impossible for me, but that doesn''t matter. There''s no need for me to waste energy kissing up to people who don''t matter. Instead, I''ll carve out my own path... I might not earn the world''s respect, but I can command their fear."


    Duncan''s thoughts were crystal clear: as long as he wielded sufficient power, nothing else mattered.


    Abomination was the key. As long as he could seize control of Abomination''s body and use it to nurture his first warrior-class Xenomorph, Duncan''s overall power would soar to new heights.


    Of course, should he succeed, the results would shock the world and expose both Duncan and the Xenomorphs to numerous dangerous entities. But those were mere details¡ªproblems for the future. For now, his focus remained fixed on Abomination.


    As long as his strength grew faster than the crises that followed, any risky action would be worth it. Xenomorphs, by their very nature, possessed an extraordinary ability to evolve rapidly when the right host was found.


    ...


    Swoosh.


    Duncan took out an egg.


    The egg''s four petals opened, and a facehugger quietly crawled out.


    Abomination didn''t see this, but hidden in a corner, praying to God to spare him from being crushed by flying debris, was Mr. Blue. He did see it.


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    What was that? From its size, it looked like an ostrich egg, but the shell was soft, and a strange creature had crawled out of it. Agile and quick, its target was clear: Abomination.


    Mr. Blue was stunned, unable to believe his eyes. How could such a tiny creature, freshly hatched no less, dare target Abomination?


    "It''s impossible," Mr. Blue thought. "There''s no way it''ll succeed. Abomination is my greatest creation! Even if he were swarmed by creatures capable of secreting strong acid, he wouldn''t fall to something so small."


    ...


    On the battlefield, though Abomination was battered and bruised, his powerful body was healing rapidly thanks to the Hulk-derived blood coursing through him. His anger was also slowly boosting his strength.


    Although his growth soon plateaued, likely due to the blood serum reaching its limit, he could still casually deliver punches with a force of over 100 tons. Any Xenomorph hit by him would be either killed or gravely injured.


    As the battle raged on, more and more Xenomorphs were killed, their acid blood leaving no intact corpses behind. Yet, even in death, they expended their last ounce of strength to ensure their blood splashed onto Abomination, leaving increasingly horrific wounds.


    The attrition was taking its toll, and even Abomination began to falter.


    "Not bad, little bugs, but it''s still not enough! You think you can stand against me with this kind of power?!"


    Abomination sneered. In this short time, he had already killed five of the strongest Xenomorphs. The remaining ones were smaller and weaker in comparison.


    Even though one of his arms and part of his shoulder had been corroded to the bone, he managed to hold on.


    Victory belonged to the strong. To the mighty Abomination.


    That was what he thought, determined to destroy these bugs, find Duncan, crush him, rest a little, and then go after the Hulk to prove that his pursuit of power had never been wrong.


    But just as he felt a sliver of exhaustion, alongside the joy of impending victory...


    The facehugger seized its chance. Hitching a ride on the back of a messenger Xenomorph, it leapt onto Abomination''s outstretched hand, demonstrating extraordinary agility as it scurried up his fingers and landed squarely on his face.


    "What the hell is this?!"


    With a burst of strength, Abomination ripped the messenger Xenomorph in two¡ªchild''s play for him, as these Xenomorphs were designed to parasitize ordinary mammals.


    But his arrogance betrayed him. Who would have thought that the real danger would come from such a tiny creature?


    Even a being as strong as Abomination experienced a moment of dizziness when the facehugger latched onto him. Although his rage soon dispelled the sensation, and he used two fingers to crush the facehugger against a wall, smashing it into pulp...


    Sizzle!


    The remnants of the facehugger burst apart, corroding the wall as its acid blood oozed out.


    "A creature this small contains such blood? Whoever created this thing must be insane. But power obtained through such methods could never compare to mine."


    True power lay in pure strength¡ªthis was the conclusion Abomination had reached after observing the Hulk and gaining some of his power himself.


    Now, he was even more determined to wipe out these disgusting creatures before hunting down the mysterious young man opposing him.


    Yet, just as Abomination prepared to attack, he noticed something strange.


    The Xenomorphs were retreating. Gathering together.


    And the young man had reappeared, standing farther away with a calm expression.


    "Blonsky, we''ll meet again soon¡ªin another form."


    A smile spread across Duncan''s face. The moment the parasitism succeeded, he felt a profound sense of relief. No matter how loudly Abomination roared or how violently he thrashed, Duncan found him... endearing.


    The more majestic and powerful Abomination appeared, the more satisfied Duncan felt, like a proud father.


    ...


    Furious, Abomination hurled a chunk of steel-reinforced concrete at Duncan, but the five remaining Xenomorphs moved in unison. Their claws deflected the debris with ease, sending it crashing aside with a loud boom.


    Amid the dust, Duncan stood unmoved, serene and composed.


    With elegance and poise, he radiated confidence.


    Abomination roared, charging forward in rage. But Duncan leaped gracefully, landing dozens of meters away with a physical prowess that stunned even Abomination.


    When Duncan successfully escaped, Abomination was left bewildered.


    "The next time we meet, I''ll kill that bastard!!"


    Abomination muttered as he worked to repair his injuries. Frustrated, he punched a wall, sending part of the ceiling crashing down onto his own head.


    "But we don''t even know who he is," Mr. Blue remarked.


    Abomination responded with a brutal kick, nearly obliterating the poor man. By some twist of fate¡ªor misfortune¡ªMr. Blue collided with a carefully stored vial of unused Hulk serum.

 Chapter 10: The Ancient One’s Troubles

    The clash between Abomination and Duncan caught the attention of many.


    "Looks like it''s an intense fight, but who are you fighting?" Blade asked, overlooking the scene from a distant rooftop.


    "I found a replica of the Hulk and decided to say hello," Duncan replied nonchalantly.


    "If you clean up your pets and heal their wounds, maybe I''ll believe you," Blade said with a sinister grin, pointing at the Xenomorphs standing near Duncan. "Seems like you''ve suffered a lot of losses. That gives your enemies a chance to take you out."


    "Don''t worry. I''m not that easy to kill. If by enemies you mean vampires, I hope they come in droves," Duncan said coolly.


    Blade studied the Xenomorphs closely, his mind churning. He could tell that Duncan had an extraordinary level of confidence in the creatures he created. Furthermore, the crowned Xenomorph he had been expecting to see was conspicuously absent.


    The two exchanged casual remarks until the injured but recovering Abomination stormed onto the street, roaring.


    Blade looked surprised. His heightened instincts immediately registered the immense threat emanating from Abomination. In truth, even he would struggle if struck by one of Abomination''s punches head-on.


    What truly caught Blade''s attention, though, was the half-healed state of Abomination''s body.


    "Was that your doing?"


    "It was."


    "How many of your Xenomorphs died?"


    "Nearly half."


    "Nearly half? And you still have six left? Looks like you''ve been busy preparing in secret," Blade said in shock. How long had it been? Already, there were a dozen or so of these creatures, and the six survivors included one that looked particularly strong, with a bizarre, almost sci-fi appearance¡ªit was clearly a new Xenomorph.


    To have suffered such heavy losses attacking Abomination and still fail only underscored how dangerous Abomination was.


    The two then watched as Abomination rampaged down Broadway, violently kicking cars off the street.


    If it were just empty vehicles, Blade could have stayed put. But when he saw civilians caught in the chaos, he couldn''t stand by any longer. Drawing his blade, he leaped into action. With his extraordinary physique, he sprinted along the side of a building and rescued a civilian.


    But Duncan didn''t move. He waited patiently, anticipation gleaming in his eyes.


    This strange stillness surprised certain observers.


    "What''s he doing?" someone asked.


    "People are dying, and he''s just standing there," Dum-Dum Dugan pointed at the screen in disbelief.


    "Maybe he''s scared. He fought that monster once, took heavy losses, and now he''s too afraid to go back in," Nick Fury muttered, shaking his head.


    Was that all? A bit of fear wasn''t necessarily a bad thing¡ªit meant he respected power, making him easier to control.


    While Fury adjusted Duncan''s evaluation rating downward to "useful but not reliable," Blade wasn''t as quick to dismiss him. Blade doubted Duncan was scared and suspected he''d discovered something critical.


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    Throughout this, Blade had never sensed fear or hesitation from Duncan.


    The situation came to a head when Bruce Banner leaped from a helicopter, stumbling as he transformed into the Hulk.


    Even Fury stopped paying attention to Duncan, his focus locked on the Hulk.


    With the Hulk now in play, who cared about Duncan? Did people even realize how much value the Hulk brought to the table? Did they understand his raw power?


    "Hulk!"


    The sight of Hulk sent Abomination into a frenzy. The rage stirred by Duncan was now fully unleashed. Abomination abandoned Blade and charged at Hulk, each step leaving massive craters in the asphalt.


    Boom!


    Hulk was sent flying.


    Having been subjected to experiments and injected with suppressive drugs by Mr. Blue, Hulk felt weak and couldn''t unleash his full strength, allowing Abomination to dominate him.


    The two giants brawled, colliding and rolling like rampaging gorillas, leaving chaos in their wake. Every blow flattened cars and turned buildings into rubble.


    Abomination grew more excited, raining punch after punch on Hulk. Something seemed to be brewing in his chest, building toward an explosive release.


    "See this, Hulk? I''m stronger than you! I¡ªEmil Blonsky¡ªAbomination, am the strongest!" Abomination roared into the sky.


    Countless eyes were glued to him, and the moment was broadcast worldwide, sparking global frenzy.


    This was a defining event. Individuals with extraordinary power were brazenly displaying their might, sowing death and destruction.


    Watching these two giants clash, ordinary punches crushed sturdy cars, and buildings crumbled like tofu under their fists.


    At that moment, many others with extraordinary powers around the world took notice.


    "Professor, we could still intervene," a member of the X-Men said.


    "No, we can''t act. This is fundamentally a human conflict. If we act recklessly, we risk triggering certain sensitivities," Professor X replied.


    The X-Men watched the breaking news on television, divided in opinion, but ultimately turned to Professor X in his wheelchair.


    Yet the professor wore a look of confusion. "Something''s off¡­ That Abomination, it''s not just him. There''s another consciousness within him¡ªone that''s rejecting my psychic link. It''s¡­ strange."


    For the first time, Professor X encountered something like this.


    The presence of another consciousness within Abomination was one thing, but this consciousness seemed deeply bound to a third, unknown mind.


    Was Abomination merely a product of an experiment gone wrong, or had someone deliberately created him?


    Professor X hesitated. He could calm both Abomination and Hulk with his psychic powers, but given the precarious position of mutants...


    "Destiny once said that in many futures, mutants face extinction. I must tread carefully, avoiding unnecessary actions to ease tensions with humanity," he thought.


    Professor X felt a heavy burden, unable to share Destiny''s visions of countless doomed futures with anyone.


    Were mutants truly doomed, no matter the path they chose? What was the right course of action?


    Meanwhile, someone else was far more carefree.


    The Ancient One sat atop a snowy mountain, her senses attuned to the cosmic dimensions. She scanned New York briefly amidst her work monitoring interdimensional threats.


    "Hmm. Reality''s shifted again, but it''s not the work of an otherworldly demon. This is just the course of Earth''s natural development."


    As a Skyfather-level being armed with the Time Stone, the Book of Vishanti, and other mystical artifacts, the Ancient One could perceive the subtle changes on Earth. She wasn''t inclined to interfere.


    Unlike the Time Stone, she didn''t possess the Reality Stone and couldn''t rewrite established facts at will.


    She was more concerned with her mounting mystical debts.


    "Vishanti hasn''t demanded anything yet, and Cyttorak is quiet, so white magic and demon spells are safe for now. The real issue is the black magic¡­"


    In the multiverse, all magic ultimately came from magical entities¡ªgodlike beings of unimaginable power. Borrowing their magic always came with a price.


    The Ancient One was fine with Vishanti and Cyttorak, who were relatively low-maintenance. But her black magic debt, borrowed from Dormammu, who in turn borrowed from the Elder God Chthon, was a problem.


    Chthon''s reputation for pettiness and wrath was legendary. Even sealed away, a mere breath from him could obliterate countless universes.


    For now, Dormammu was shouldering the debt for the Ancient One''s black magic use¡ªa situation that clearly irked him.


    The Ancient One sighed. "Blame Chthon. Look at what he''s reduced you to, Dormammu."


    She murmured to herself, casually casting a black magic spell to extend her lifespan.


    Deep within the Dark Dimension, Dormammu opened his eyes in fury, his resentment palpable.


    Damn it. The debt had increased again.

 Chapter 11: He’s Sided with the Deviants!

    The world''s eyes were on New York. Even Iron Man decided to deploy urgently.


    "Tony Stark, we don''t need you here!" General Ross shouted through a megaphone from a helicopter.


    "Ha, you can''t stop me. If I were you, I''d jump off that helicopter after screwing up the super-soldier program this badly," Tony retorted mockingly.


    Like a meteor, he descended from the sky, glowing brightly. Extending both hands, he aimed at the battling Hulk and Abomination. "Make a wish, boys."


    Boom! Two energy blasts shot out but proved useless¡ªthey didn''t even scratch their defenses.


    The two giants barely noticed him as they roared and exchanged blows. Similarly, they couldn''t breach each other''s defenses either.


    "Sir, the density of their subcutaneous fat is at least three times stronger than steel. We need to increase output power," J.A.R.V.I.S., Tony''s faithful AI, reported.


    "Increasing power will take them down? Maybe I should bring out the shoulder-mounted armor-piercing rounds."


    "That might break their skin enough to get their attention."


    "You''re full of great ideas. I should upgrade your programming."


    Tony zipped back and forth between the two monsters, more of a distraction than a serious threat.


    The Mark III suit wasn''t designed for battles of this magnitude.


    Worse, Tony noticed Hulk''s strength steadily increasing over time. Initially overpowered by Abomination, Hulk had now grown strong enough to match him blow for blow.


    It was only a matter of time before Hulk broke free from the suppressive serum''s effects. His power would surge, and he''d eventually overpower and defeat Abomination.


    And when that happened, would a rampaging Hulk be able to resist his destructive instincts?


    "Hey, vampire! You planning to help or what?" Tony flew over to Blade and yelled.


    Blade, already well-known in the underground, had been recognized by J.A.R.V.I.S. instantly.


    Blade''s eyelid twitched as he suppressed the urge to slice Tony and test the durability of his suit. He replied coldly, "I''ve already saved over a dozen people."


    "Then what are you waiting for? Or are you hoping that kid over there with those weird creatures will save the day?"


    Blade glared at Tony. If he wasn''t mistaken, J.A.R.V.I.S. had probably already hacked into the satellites monitoring the area.


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    But Tony wasn''t entirely wrong¡ªBlade was indeed curious about what Duncan was planning. His instincts told him the young man was waiting for a pivotal event, but what could it be?


    "Damn it! Damn it!!"


    Meanwhile, Abomination, bloodied and battered, was horrified to realize that his once superior strength had been overtaken by Hulk!


    Hulk''s strength truly had no limit?


    "If I hadn''t wasted so much time and energy on those strange creatures, I wouldn''t be losing! I hope that Mr. Blue is still alive¡ªif I can inject more Hulk serum¡­"


    Fueled by envy and desperation, Abomination''s obsession with surpassing Hulk drove him mad.


    No one understood the deep-seated fear and awe he felt when he first encountered Hulk as a regular human.


    Boom!


    Another punch sent Abomination flying. As he got back up, an overwhelming exhaustion hit him. This was terrifying¡ªwhy was he feeling tired? It felt like something inside him, something far more dreadful, was draining his energy.


    His muscles were numb, his superhuman organs felt alien to him, and something horrifying seemed ready to burst out of his chest.


    "If I can just rest¡­ inject more serum¡­ I''ll surpass Hulk! Once I defeat him, I''ll drain every drop of his blood and transplant his spinal cord into my body!"


    This extreme reverence for Hulk had morphed into jealousy and a twisted desire for possession.


    Clutching his chest, Abomination turned and fled under the glare of helicopter searchlights.


    His speed was halved, far from his peak.


    If anyone could see him up close, they''d notice bizarre protrusions bulging from his chest, as if something were about to break free.


    "He''s running away!"


    "This¡­ I still don''t understand¡ªwhere did these two come from, and why are they fighting?"


    "Blonsky might have disappointed me, but at least he had a brain!"


    As people frantically discussed the chaos, Hulk hesitated. Unsure whether to pursue Abomination, he ultimately used the distraction to leap away and escape.


    General Ross, however, was unwilling to give up. Hulk was too dangerous to control, but there was still hope for Blonsky, the super-soldier he''d cultivated.


    Ross viewed Blonsky as a crucial part of the super-soldier program¡ªpowerful, yet still retaining his intelligence.


    At that moment, a civilian helicopter from a New York media outlet shifted its spotlight to focus on a sudden movement.


    The light revealed a figure with a few strange-looking creatures running at incredible speed.


    Though the footage was blurry and the figures quickly disappeared amidst the chaotic streets, the scene was enough to capture attention.


    "Was it just my imagination? Did we get that on camera?"


    A reporter rubbed his eyes and checked the footage.


    The scene quickly spread, seen by countless people watching their TVs at home.


    Most dismissed it amidst the evening''s extraordinary events¡ªmuscle-bound giants and a billionaire in a metal suit were already enough to process. Another odd sight barely registered.


    "Deviants! Those creatures are Deviants! But all Deviants were wiped out over 500 years ago¡ªhow are they still alive?!"


    In London, Sersi¡ªan Eternal created by the Celestials¡ªwas teaching at a school when she saw the footage on TV.


    Though the images were blurry, the creatures'' forms were unmistakably similar to Deviants.


    The 11 Eternals had spent millennia eradicating Deviants. How could there still be survivors? And why was a human working with them?!


    Panic gripped Sersi. Deviants preyed on intelligent life. Left unchecked, they''d kill countless humans.


    Unaware of the Celestials'' true purpose for the Eternals, Sersi believed their mission was to protect humanity. In reality, they were merely tools to foster humanity''s population growth and expedite the emergence of a slumbering Celestial at Earth''s core¡ªone that fed on human consciousness.


    Its birth would mean Earth''s destruction and humanity''s extinction.


    Sersi immediately reached out for help. Her first thought wasn''t the Eternals'' leader, Ajak, but her partner, Ikaris¡ªthe team''s powerhouse, wielding flight, heat vision, and a steel-like body.

 Chapter 12: Chest-Bursting!

    Many people had yet to realize that Abomination''s rampage, born of a moment of madness, might have seemed like a dangerous public spectacle. The incident, however, was suppressed before causing greater harm.


    But in truth, Abomination''s outburst ignited the ambitions of countless individuals with ill intentions. It showed that individuals possessing extraordinary powers could brazenly wreak havoc in the public eye, declaring their strength to the entire world.


    People had always been aware of dangerous groups like the Brotherhood, but they seemed distant¡ªlike threats that didn''t concern them. That feeling would vanish from now on. A new, turbulent era had arrived, filled with lunatics and monsters putting on macabre performances.


    ...


    Thud. Thud. Thud.


    Abomination barreled through obstacles¡ªa series of buildings and vehicles¡ªas he stumbled back to the lab.


    In his hazy mind, he knew his actions were reckless. The smarter choice would have been to flee the city and contact General Ross in private, working out a reconciliation.


    Together, they could''ve pinned tonight''s chaos on the Hulk, joined forces to hunt him down, and reaped even greater benefits.


    Unfortunately, Abomination''s frustration made him irrational. He stubbornly believed that injecting more serum would amplify his strength and salvage his dignity.


    Now back at the shattered lab, he frantically searched for what he needed.


    "If you''re looking for that big-headed scientist, he''s hiding about 300 meters away, observing everything," a voice came from the shadows.


    Duncan stepped into the dim light. He had been waiting for Abomination.


    "You''ve been lying in wait for me?" Abomination growled, his grotesque face twisted with anger.


    "Indeed. I''ve been observing you and knew you''d return here," Duncan replied calmly. He didn''t rely on sight; his heightened senses allowed him to track the Xenomorph parasite inside Abomination''s body, pinpointing his exact location.


    The moment Duncan appeared, it signaled that the timing was perfect.


    Originally, Duncan thought the Xenomorph parasite growing within Abomination¡ªa remarkably resilient host¡ªwould need more time to develop to the chest-bursting stage. Unexpectedly, the parasite''s growth had exceeded his expectations.


    Perhaps it was Abomination''s genetics¡ªor the Hulk-derived DNA coursing through him¡ªthat accelerated the Xenomorph''s development.


    Moreover, Abomination, as a host, was the ideal incubation chamber: brimming with vitality and rich in energy.


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    ...


    "You know," Duncan said as he studied the monstrous figure approaching him, "I''ve imagined this moment countless times during the past few minutes." His gaze lingered on Abomination''s chest. "Compared to you, vampires are nothing."


    Abomination couldn''t understand Duncan''s cryptic words, but he knew something was wrong with his body. It wasn''t just his dulled senses sharpening. Duncan''s presence seemed to trigger something, and an alarming protrusion began to rise from his chest.


    If not for his reinforced muscles and skin, the Xenomorph would''ve already burst free. For an ordinary human, such violent physical changes would have been fatal.


    "This¡­ this was your doing? What have you done to me?!" Abomination stared down at himself in disbelief. He reached to grab at the protrusion, but the moment his fingers¡ªcapable of crushing steel¡ªapplied pressure, excruciating pain coursed through him, as if he were tearing at his own organs.


    He recalled the strange spider-like creature and vaguely grasped the horrifying truth.


    "No matter what this is, I''m Abomination¡ªthe strongest being on this planet! I can''t die!" he roared.


    "No. You will die," Duncan replied, stepping closer. "Don''t mistake the Xenomorph for an ordinary parasite. The moment it bursts from your chest, it will have perfectly assimilated your genetic material, replacing your vital organs and spinal column. It will become a part of you. Once it emerges, your body will lose these parts forever. Your weak regenerative abilities won''t restore what''s missing. No one''s body can regrow perfectly functional organs that have already been replaced."


    Abomination''s corpse would, in turn, become sustenance for the Xenomorph.


    ...


    "Roar!"


    Abomination''s bloodshot, green eyes were filled with rage and terror. He swung his massive arm in desperation, aiming to crush the insignificant human before him.


    Boom!


    Duncan raised his arms to block the blow. The impact drove his legs halfway into the floor. His muscles tore under the strain, and his bones cracked audibly.


    Yet he held firm. His injuries began to heal rapidly.


    Why could an ordinary man like Duncan withstand such force? The answer was simple: his body also hosted a dormant Xenomorph parasite.


    ...


    Squelch!


    With a grotesque burst, Abomination''s chest exploded. Blood splattered in every direction, a testament to the horrifying pressure that had built up inside him.


    Abomination''s massive body convulsed violently as his remaining flickers of sanity watched, horrified, as the creature emerged from his own body.


    The sight defied the limits of his feeble imagination. The creature resembled a nightmare incarnate, using his flesh as a vessel to enter this world.


    It was born drenched in blood, shaking its grotesque head and letting out a piercing screech.


    The Xenomorph was terrifyingly powerful even at birth, standing nearly two meters tall.


    While the height might not seem impressive, other Xenomorph types began as small, vulnerable larval forms. They required hours of rapid growth to reach maturity, typically two to three meters in height.


    Duncan assessed the Xenomorph''s condition and confirmed it was exceptionally strong at birth. Its development would only accelerate. Within minutes¡ªperhaps less than an hour¡ªit would become a formidable predator.


    As for Abomination...


    He was already doomed.


    Just as Duncan had predicted, the Xenomorph had fully absorbed Abomination''s superior genes. Upon emerging, it severed its genetic link to its host. Despite Abomination''s regenerative ability, his body could not replace his missing chest cavity and vital organs. They had vanished as though into thin air.


    Abomination''s bulging eyes burned with rage and despair. He stretched a trembling hand toward the creature, attempting to crush the nightmare that had emerged from his body.


    But what met him was the Xenomorph''s inner jaw, faster than a bullet, which pierced his skull in one swift strike.


    Crunch.


    The Xenomorph began devouring its former host, wasting no time as it consumed every scrap of flesh to fuel its growth.

 Chapter 13: The Poor Mans Superman

    Mr. Blue hid in the distance, his oversized head now throbbing with the overwhelming power of the Hulk serum, greedily observing everything unfolding before him.


    Kicked away by Abomination, a drop of Hulk serum had landed on his head, triggering a groundbreaking evolution in his brain. But the smarter he became, the more reluctant he was to leave.


    He couldn''t let go of these strange creatures.


    With his newfound intellect, Mr. Blue processed every bit of information he had seen upon first encountering Duncan and the xenomorphs, running countless simulations¡ªno exaggeration, his memory and computational capacity now surpassed even the most advanced artificial intelligence.


    He marveled at the xenomorph''s perfection as a weapon, where every contour of its body was designed purely for combat efficiency.


    He noticed subtle differences among the xenomorph types and, through careful deduction, pieced together fragments of their nature, making it even harder for him to walk away.


    Then, with his enhanced vision, he witnessed the horrifying moment when Abomination was chest-bursted. His entire body trembled.


    Not just from fear¡ªbut from exhilaration.


    "So, monsters like this exist in the world. I understand now. That man carried the egg for a reason. The spider that emerged and latched onto Blonsky''s face only to die moments later... everything had a purpose."


    "It was all for parasitism. Everything was to acquire Blonsky''s power!"


    If that were all, Mr. Blue would have been astonished but not desperate enough to risk his life to stay. But when he saw the xenomorph''s inner jaw, sharp as a spear, effortlessly penetrate Abomination''s missile-proof skull, he shivered.


    Piecing everything together from his deductions, Mr. Blue formed a hypothesis.


    "These creatures can parasitize different hosts and absorb their powers. No, their genes! But how do they filter through the infinitely complex genetic sequences of an organism so quickly? What criteria do they use to differentiate between valuable and worthless genes?"


    Is it just extracting combat-related genes? Or something even more outrageous... absorbing all superior genetic traits while discarding the inferior ones, emerging far more powerful than the host upon chest-bursting?


    Mr. Blue couldn''t be certain. The idea was too wild. But if it were true, there was no doubt¡ªthese unknown creatures were perfect beings.


    He could hardly fathom how the mysterious man had acquired these creatures or managed to control them.


    "A psychic link, like Professor X? Or perhaps, like birds, they imprint on the first being they see as their parent?" Mr. Blue''s heart raced wildly.


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    As a scientist, ambition came naturally to him. But above all, he had an innate drive¡ªan obsession with the pursuit of perfection within his field.


    To Mr. Blue, creatures like Abomination and the Hulk were mere relics of nature compared to the xenomorphs, obsolete and insignificant.


    The stronger, more exceptional, and more boundless the host''s potential, the more the xenomorph surpassed them upon bursting forth. How could anything compete?


    Most people can never fully realize their potential due to time, energy, and countless other limitations. It''s impossible to master everything one could theoretically excel at.


    But xenomorphs are different. They seize all the host''s superior traits, max out their potential, and evolve into a mature form that surpasses the host entirely.


    It was terrifying. Suffocating. And¡­ beautiful.


    "They''re mine. These perfect creatures should belong to me¡ªSamuel Sterns, the greatest biologist in human history!" Mr. Blue''s giant head finally stopped swelling, his intellect having expanded nearly five hundredfold in an instant.


    But intelligence aside, when confronted with such unheard-of monsters, his hysterical greed and desire nearly drove him mad.


    "And that black-haired man¡ªhe withstood Blonsky''s desperate attacks. His body isn''t normal either! Could it be related to these creatures? Is that why he can control them?"


    Though Mr. Blue''s intellect was unparalleled, the lack of information in this unknown field left his mind reeling. The logical impasse was suffocating.


    Suddenly, Duncan turned his head and looked in Mr. Blue''s direction.


    Their eyes met.


    "He noticed me!" The thought exploded in Mr. Blue''s mind.


    "Looks like the big-headed baby pulled through," Duncan mused, "but I wonder how he measures up to the other Samuel Sterns."


    While mentally communicating with the Abomination-xenomorph, Duncan also kept an eye on Mr. Blue.


    In the comics, Samuel Sterns¡ªthe Leader¡ªis reputedly one of Earth''s eight smartest individuals, gaining his immense intellect from gamma radiation.


    However, the Mr. Blue standing before Duncan had enhanced his intelligence through a drop of Hulk serum on his brain.


    This confirmed something for Duncan: the universe he was in was not purely the movie version.


    Given the vastness of Marvel''s multiverse, recklessly assuming the nature of the universe without extensive exploration was a surefire way to get himself killed in critical moments.


    Maintaining a cautious attitude toward everything was the safest mindset.


    Besides, even if this were purely the movie universe, it wouldn''t be safe. Beyond the universe, multiversal entities toy with entire dimensions¡ªlending power, planting traps, setting up disasters. Who knows when some obscure corner might spawn a being infused with multiversal-level power?


    Not to mention the supercosmic entities that exist beyond the multiverse, whose danger was beyond comprehension.


    By the time Marvel''s seventh multiverse came into existence, countless true big shots had made their moves, upgrading Marvel''s cosmology to omnipotent concepts.


    Sending a messenger xenomorph to secretly monitor Mr. Blue, Duncan turned his gaze to the distance.


    The commotion here had already spread. He anticipated someone would soon arrive.


    However, he didn''t expect the newcomer to be Blade, Iron Man, S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, or any other heroes or villains.


    No. It was¡­ Superman?


    A figure clad in a blue-and-gold bodysuit floated effortlessly in midair, needing no physical medium to remain suspended. His face was stern, his eyes flashing with golden light that hinted at an immense energy ready to fire at any moment.


    Other than lacking a cape and red briefs, this guy bore an uncanny resemblance to a certain superhero from the next universe over.


    At first glance, Duncan kept his composure, but internally, he couldn''t help feeling odd. He hadn''t expected the first one to show up would be this guy.


    One of the 11 Eternals stationed on Earth for thousands of years, tasked with fostering the Celestial race and indirectly dooming Earth and humanity¡ªIkaris.

 Chapter 14: Even Marvels Superman Has to Taste My Wrath

    As one of the most powerful Eternals, Ikaris hadn''t fought in a long time. While there were numerous formidable beings on this planet, none of them had ever truly posed a threat to him.


    This confidence stemmed from centuries of fighting on Earth, where he joined forces with other Eternals to hunt down and annihilate Deviants, cementing his unshakable belief in his superiority.


    "Yes, though they look strange, they must be Deviants," he muttered.


    After receiving a message from Sersi, his lover, Ikaris had rushed over at full speed. Now, using his super-vision, he scrutinized the peculiar creatures before him. His face showed hesitation, but he quickly dismissed his doubts¡ªthese might simply be a new variant of Deviants.


    After all, Deviants were known for their powerful mutative genes, allowing them to change their forms after absorbing the strength of other powerful organisms.


    Still, the Deviants in front of him¡ªaside from the one feeding inside the building¡ªseemed disappointingly weak.


    His gaze shifted to the room where Abomination''s mangled corpse lay, reduced to a pile of shredded flesh. While he couldn''t discern how it had died, that detail didn''t matter.


    "These Deviants absorbed the life energy of that grotesque creature to evolve. But what''s with this crude feeding method?"


    Ikaris''s face grew cold.


    Deviants indeed gained strength by absorbing other beings, but the process typically involved piercing their targets with tendrils to extract energy¡ªnot devouring them like this.


    What kind of bizarre evolutionary ability was this? Had they regressed somehow?


    Even more puzzling was the fact that most Deviants were supposed to be sealed beneath Alaska''s icy lakes. How could a few of them have suddenly appeared here¡ªand so brazenly?


    "Why are you mingling with these Deviants? Do you have any idea how dangerous they are?" Ikaris crossed his arms, his voice icy and condescending as he looked down at Duncan.


    "Deviants? You''ve got the wrong idea," Duncan replied calmly, understanding why Ikaris had come.


    Ikaris, after all, was a schemer. He had concealed from the other ten Eternals the existence of the last group of Deviants hidden in Alaska.


    These eleven Eternals were nothing like Thanos''s ancestors¡ªthe branch of Eternals who had migrated to Titan to proliferate. Instead, they were directly created by the Celestials, repeatedly cleansed of their memories to serve as eternal enforcers.


    Their purpose was simple: to protect burgeoning civilizations, ensure the birth of infant Celestials within planetary cores, and then have their memories wiped before being deployed to new worlds.


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    Yet exceptions existed. Occasionally, fragments of old memories would surface in some Eternals'' minds¡ªremnants of memories not entirely erased.


    Ikaris had sensed discrepancies in his own memories but was shrewd enough not to reveal them.


    "The Earth''s ecosystem couldn''t have produced creatures like these. They''re not native to this planet," Ikaris declared coldly. "You don''t even know what Deviants are, nor do you show the proper respect for me, the one who has protected you and your ancestors."


    "Respect? For you? Nonsense," Duncan responded with measured calm. He knew Ikaris was both powerful and fanatical. Since Ikaris would not leave until his goals were achieved, Duncan decided to confront him head-on.


    "You talk about Deviants, but tell me this: Are you more concerned about protecting humanity or covering up the truth?"


    Ikaris''s face darkened. It wasn''t just Duncan''s defiance¡ªit was the fact that this human seemed to know about the Eternals, the Deviants, and the secrets Ikaris had been hiding.


    Was it sheer coincidence, or was Duncan testing him intentionally?


    Golden light flickered in Ikaris''s eyes as he unleashed his heat vision. The beam of energy was powerful enough to obliterate an ordinary human in an instant.


    But just then, the Abomination-like creature, now swollen after feeding, smashed through the wall with ease. With its jagged teeth bared, it tackled Ikaris, slamming him into the ground with a devastating suplex.


    Boom!


    The sheer force of the impact left a deep crater in the ground.


    "Is this how you protect humanity?" Duncan said calmly, shielded behind the creature. "You recklessly attack anything you deem a Deviant, killing indiscriminately¡ªeven humans you can''t identify?"


    "You clearly know about Deviants and that we protect humanity. Who are you? How do you know these things?"


    Ikaris emerged unscathed, astonished at the creature''s strength. While it was no match for him, its raw power was impressive.


    But what truly concerned him was Duncan''s composure. The human hadn''t even flinched, as if he had anticipated Ikaris''s every move.


    This man wasn''t ordinary. He was a problem¡ªa major one. And the fact that he was somehow allied with these so-called Deviants defied all logic, as Deviants were natural predators of humans.


    No matter the mystery, Ikaris knew one thing: Absolute strength would settle this. He had to eliminate Duncan and these creatures quickly to bury the truth.


    Boom!


    Ikaris launched himself like a missile, driving into the creature''s chest. Duncan sidestepped, and Ikaris plowed through several buildings, leaving chaos and destruction in his wake.


    Unlike some of his fellow Eternals, Ikaris didn''t care about collateral damage.


    After all, wasn''t he entitled to cause some destruction after centuries of protecting humanity, ensuring their survival and growth? A little collateral damage was a small price to pay.


    Standing amidst the wreckage, Ikaris clenched his fists, his muscular frame radiating cold authority as flames erupted from a building he had just obliterated.


    Meanwhile, the creature remained unfazed. Emerging unscathed, it lashed its tail and flexed its massive muscles before charging at Ikaris again, unleashing devastating force.


    Once again, the two collided, sending shockwaves through the city.


    "Why are there more monsters?! Wasn''t the fight on Broadway already over?!"


    "What the hell is going on today? These two are even crazier than the last ones!"


    At first, some citizens thought Ikaris was a hero and the creature a villain.


    But within seconds, they realized the truth: neither of these combatants cared about their lives.


    The only difference was that Ikaris fought with blatant disregard for human casualties, while the creature seemed to intentionally move the battle to less populated areas¡ªthough it still left a trail of destruction and occasional casualties in its wake.

 Chapter 15: A Shattered Mindset

    "This strange appearance does indeed resemble the Deviants."


    Sersi, one of the Eternals with the ability to manipulate energy, was intently rewatching a video uploaded online. She had already informed Ikaris, another Eternal, and estimated that he, being in North America, should have arrived on the scene by now.


    Frankly speaking, appearing publicly in modern society often caused complications. The last time they eradicated the Deviants was back in the 16th century.


    In earlier times, they could act without restraint, as global attention wasn''t an issue. Within a few decades, their existence would fade from human memory. But now? With countless recording devices everywhere, things were different.


    The Deviants, who should have been entirely eliminated¡ªcreatures that specifically preyed on humans¡ªhad inexplicably resurfaced.


    "The Celestials gave us life, and we must use it to carry out their will¡ªto protect humanity from the Deviants. I hope Ikaris can quickly confirm if these unfamiliar entities are truly Deviants," Sersi murmured.


    Unbeknownst to her, her trusted lover, harboring some indescribable emotions, had already rashly labeled Duncan as an enemy and engaged him in a brutal fight.


    It wasn''t long before she found out. Her eyes widened as she watched the fierce battle between two destructive figures unfold on the internet.


    "The situation is crystal clear now: an unidentified man flew into New York at supersonic speeds, roughly ten times the speed of sound, and confronted Duncan for reasons unknown," Fury explained, pointing at the satellite footage. His face was expressionless, though visibly darkened with concern. "Energy-monitoring satellites indicate this man possesses an incredibly high energy index. Where did this superhuman even come from?"


    As the head of a spy organization, Fury was always prepared for unexpected situations, but he despised any form of unforeseen variables.


    Soon, an even more shocking revelation emerged.


    From the ruins of a shattered experimental lab associated with Abomination, another hulking figure appeared.


    "Abomination? Did he team up with Duncan?" Hill exclaimed, startled, but quickly realized her mistake.


    This new figure wasn''t Abomination.


    Satellite AI continued its analysis, and despite the limited perspective, the conclusion was clear: the new entity was smaller than Abomination¡ªa "compact version."


    "This is an alien organism," Dum Dum Dugan interjected after a brief pause, his voice dry. "Maybe I''m mistaken? Perhaps Abomination, injured by Hulk, returned to this lab seeking the source of his transformation. But instead of Abomination, something similar but clearly alien emerged?"


    The experienced agents were momentarily silent, stunned by the profound implications of what they had just seen. The information conveyed in the brief footage was astonishing and almost shattered their understanding of the world and life itself.


    Could their assumptions about the situation be correct?


    "If that''s the case, then Duncan''s fight with Abomination makes sense," Coulson, who had just arrived, added gravely. "It''s likely that Duncan acted preemptively upon discovering Abomination''s actions."


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    The agents continued watching as the mysterious man inexplicably attacked Duncan, only to be intercepted by the alien resembling Abomination. A fierce battle broke out on the spot.


    Wherever the man and the alien went, destruction followed. Steel-reinforced concrete buildings crumbled like paper. The sheer physical force and brutality of their punches were staggering¡ªevery move was designed to land a blow, with no defense whatsoever. The sole aim was to hit harder than the other.


    The relentless violence made Fury and the others frown deeply, speechless for a long time.


    The level of destruction was terrifying.


    Especially concerning was Duncan. If he truly used some mysterious means to extract Abomination''s strength to create a new alien species¡­


    "I thought he was just a minor threat, someone to keep under close surveillance. Turns out he''s a much bigger problem," Fury broke the silence. "He used this opportunity to create an unimaginably powerful alien being."


    "Boss, this alien seems much stronger than Abomination and is growing more powerful. It''s only been a short time, and it''s already bulkier and more muscular¡ªits strength is catching up to that mysterious man," Hill observed. "It''s almost like¡ª"


    "Hulk," Fury concluded. "One of our theories might actually be true. Considering Duncan''s previous capture of a few vampires, we can tentatively conclude that he has found a way to transfer the strength of different life forms to these aliens."


    "It could be one of several methods: surgical organ transplants, devouring, or genetic extraction. But all of these require time. From when Duncan acted against Abomination to now, how much time has even passed?" Coulson was baffled.


    "Elevate Duncan''s threat level by four levels. He warrants close attention and heightened precautions," Fury instructed.


    Could such a life form exist¡ªone capable of stealing strength and growing at an alarming rate?


    SHIELD had underestimated Duncan. In this incident, they had been completely outplayed by him, inadvertently facilitating the rise of a new, formidable power.


    The bitter realization was hard to swallow.


    Duncan, on the other hand, was thoroughly enjoying himself. Watching the fierce clash between the two figures from afar filled him with satisfaction.


    At first, the alien born from Abomination was clearly at a disadvantage, taking numerous punches before landing even a single blow on Ikaris.


    But as the battle continued, the alien''s terrifying potential began to emerge. Its genetic foundation, derived from Abomination¡ªessentially Hulk''s DNA¡ªwas its greatest asset.


    The more it fought, the angrier it became. The angrier it became, the stronger it grew.


    This exponential increase in power left even Ikaris dumbfounded. After only a few rounds, the creature he thought of as a Deviant was holding its own against him.


    Punches were no longer effective. His heat vision could only char the alien''s metallic armor, unable to penetrate further.


    Ikaris'' only remaining advantage was his ability to fly.


    He refused to believe the creature could sprout wings on the spot.


    "No matter what you are, if you fight for that human, then I''ll kill him!" Ikaris growled, his eyes flashing with killing intent. He struck the alien''s chest, sending it flying backward, then immediately unleashed his heat vision and shot into the sky, intending to leave the creature behind and target Duncan directly.


    But the alien possessed incredible combat instincts. It couldn''t fly, but with its muscular legs and powerful tail, it leapt high into the air, grabbed Ikaris'' leg, yanked him down, and clawed through his armor, leaving deep gashes in his flesh.


    The brutal clash continued, and as they grew familiar with each other''s strength, their fight became predictable. Ikaris, desperate to escape, kept failing.


    The longer the battle dragged on, the more frustrated Ikaris became¡ªespecially after sustaining injuries.


    Risking exposure to billions of humans was not worth it. He had wanted to exploit the Deviants as his secret weapon, yet the situation had spiraled out of control.


    ''I can''t keep fighting. Even if I win, it won''t matter,'' Ikaris thought bitterly. Through the battle, he realized this creature wasn''t a Deviant. Its physical changes were due to natural muscle and bone expansion, fundamentally different from the energy-based transformations of Deviants.


    Even worse, Earth''s strongest individuals were undoubtedly now aware of him and the Eternals.


    "Enough. That''s it. These creatures aren''t Deviants!" Ikaris shouted.


    "Good speech," Duncan retorted, his voice resonating with righteous fervor. "But I''ve confirmed one thing: you''re the real Deviant, the ultimate enemy of humanity!"

 Chapter 16: Wails and Escapes

    "You want to come and go as you please? Did you even ask for my permission?"


    Duncan stood stoically, surrounded by several Xenomorphs.


    Originally, he could have quietly parasitized Abomination, steadily accumulating his strength without having to reveal his powers so blatantly.


    But unfortunately, the ill-intentioned Ikaris showed up.


    "Since you''re already here, why not stay awhile?"


    If possible, Duncan would have gladly turned Ikaris into one of his kind.


    Having a "budget Superman" Xenomorph would greatly enhance his combat strength.


    Although extremely difficult, as Duncan currently lacked the power to defeat Ikaris or find an opportunity to parasitize him, Ikaris wasn''t as easy to deal with as Abomination.


    Suddenly¡ª Rip!


    Ikaris was finally injured.


    His opponent didn''t just have arms and legs but also a powerful tail and a deadly surprise weapon: the inner jaw!


    The Abomination Xenomorph violently launched its inner jaw, tearing a chunk of flesh from Ikaris''s face.


    Ikaris widened his eyes in disbelief, touching his blood-soaked face as his gaze turned crimson.


    It wasn''t just seething anger but an unprecedented anxiety creeping into his mind.


    He wasn''t really the Superman. He could be injured, could flee, and had to weigh the risks of battles like this¡ªwas it even worth exposing himself in such a risky fight?


    Most importantly, Ikaris had no idea what the limits of the Abomination Xenomorph were. The more they fought, the stronger it seemed. It was breaking him mentally.


    With a furious roar, Ikaris smashed his fist into the Abomination Xenomorph''s face, following up with another series of devastating blows to its head.


    The speed at which their bodies clashed shattered the sound barrier effortlessly, creating shockwaves comparable to explosions. Visible ripples of destruction spread outwards.


    Tanks fired rounds, and a swarm of armed helicopters launched missiles.


    At this level of destruction, the losses were too catastrophic for the military to remain passive.


    General Ross, standing aboard a helicopter, watched the chaos before him with vacant eyes.


    If it were just Abomination fighting the Hulk, there might still be room to salvage the situation. But now? Forget it. He was bound to face a military tribunal.


    "Who is this flying guy?! And who is he fighting?!" Ross bellowed, unable to keep his composure. "Fire on both of them!"


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    Ikaris, struck by several rounds, retaliated by unleashing his heat vision, destroying all helicopters in sight¡ªincluding Ross''s.


    Just as Ross was about to perish on the spot¡ª


    Iron Man returned in time, shielding Ross from the explosion with his back and grabbing him mid-air, accelerating toward a nearby skyscraper.


    "I don''t like you, but if you die here, that''d be a joke," Tony remarked.


    "Tony Stark! You should''ve let those monsters kill me."


    "You''re right. That would''ve forced the government to deal with them, and your Super Soldier program would continue without a hitch," Tony replied coldly, dropping Ross onto the skyscraper before flying back to the battlefield.


    To be honest, Tony thought intervening was suicidal. The Mark III suit couldn''t withstand punches from either of these two monsters. But he had no other choice.


    At that moment, as if by coincidence, the Abomination Xenomorph¡ªnow battered¡ªhad its head cracked open, spilling its highly corrosive blood everywhere.


    Ikaris''s eyes lit up. Victory was imminent¡ªor so he thought. But in the next second, the corrosive blood splattered onto his face, causing him to let out an inhuman wail.


    Ikaris was stunned as he felt his face melting.


    "AAAAAHHHH!!!"


    His screams were piercing as he clutched his face. But this only made it worse; his hands came into contact with the acidic blood, which began eating away at them too.


    This isn''t just a mutated species¡ªthis thing is leagues more terrifying. The more injured it became, the more dangerous it grew, unleashing even deadlier attacks.


    The Abomination Xenomorph, now fully enraged, ignored its rapidly healing injuries, extending its massive arms to grab Ikaris tightly before smashing him through a dozen skyscrapers.


    Ikaris was shaken. Deep down, he still believed he could win if the fight continued. But against an enemy whose blood alone could inflict such catastrophic damage, the fight wasn''t worth it.


    Weighing the pros and cons, Ikaris decided to flee.


    Without hesitation, he used the momentum to escape, crashing through the rooftop of a building and smashing General Ross into a mist of red as he ascended into the sky.


    Covered in blood and gore, Ikaris didn''t stop. He soared into the night sky, disappearing from view, desperate to find a safe place to deal with the acid now corroding his bones.


    As for Ross? Sorry, no matter how influential he was, Ikaris didn''t care about ordinary humans. All he wanted was to escape to safety and clean off the acid.


    Moments later, Tony Stark hovered silently above the scene, staring at the blood-stained rooftop and wreckage below.


    "If I say Ross''s death has nothing to do with me, that it wasn''t intentional and purely an accident¡ªJarvis, do you think the judges will believe me?"


    "Unlikely, sir. Based on my calculations, they probably won''t, though they lack concrete evidence."


    "Great. Jarvis, let''s rehearse our testimony. If they ask whether it was deliberate or accidental¡ª"


    For the first time, Tony felt being a superhero was far from glamorous.


    One person dying was troublesome enough, let alone someone as high-profile as Ross¡ªand because Tony had deliberately left him there.


    "This is a disaster."


    But don''t misunderstand¡ªTony wasn''t lamenting Ross''s fate. Ross''s shady dealings meant even if he survived tonight, the best outcome for him would''ve been life in prison.


    Tony was lamenting his own misfortune. Barely into his superhero career, and he was already embroiled in such a mess.


    Tonight had been a harsh lesson. If the Hulk and Abomination weren''t bad enough, the two new monsters that showed up were even worse, with their reckless destruction and horrifying combat abilities.


    For the first time, humanity truly realized that superhumans like these lived among them. If they fought without restraint, they could easily cause apocalyptic disasters.


    Who could stop them? The military with its tanks and helicopters?


    So far, that seemed ineffective. And deploying high-powered weapons wasn''t always an option¡ªand might not work anyway.


    Tony shifted his gaze to the Abomination Xenomorph, landing fifty meters ahead of Duncan.


    The previously feral and violent Xenomorph now stood calmly beside Duncan, its grotesquely swollen muscles receding as it silently waited.


    "Impressive. It''s like a well-behaved little girl¡ªbut I''m guessing it doesn''t have a gender."


    Tony approached Duncan, skimming through the data Jarvis had uploaded on him.


    "Tony Stark. Nice to meet you under these circumstances," Duncan said with a kind expression.


    "You''re celebrating too early. More trouble is coming your way soon," Tony retorted. "Buddy, do you have any idea the global chaos your creations are causing?"

 Chapter 17: Building a Legion Always Requires a Good Start

    "I know. Long before I decided to take action, I was already prepared to face this reality," Duncan said, his gaze fixed on Iron Man standing at a distance, maintaining his vigilance.


    It was easy for him to imagine that Iron Man had already deployed the advanced weaponry of his armor and could attack him at any moment.


    "So calm. Who do you think you are? A superhero? Or maybe an exceptional biologist¡ªa genius entrepreneur funded by government grants?" Tony''s voice came through the armor.


    Duncan pondered for a moment. "In terms of entrepreneurship, I do have some insights. Just take a look at these remarkable little fellows¡ªbeautiful and awe-inspiring. Aren''t they my best business cards?"


    Little fellows?


    Tony instinctively glanced at the alien creatures behind Duncan, his eyes lingering on the four-meter-tall Abomination Alien in silence.


    He mentally classified Duncan: a conceited show-off who uses every opportunity in public to flaunt his abilities without restraint.


    Sometimes, proud people dislike others of the same ilk even more.


    For a fleeting moment, Tony thought of someone he''d met before¡ªa man with some difficulty walking. The man claimed to have extraordinary research results and preened like a peacock trying to impress Tony. To Tony, it was both laughable and childish.


    Everyone knew Tony Stark was a super-genius, after all. The line of people hoping to curry favor with him could stretch around every burger joint in New York.


    "Only people who lack confidence in themselves feel the need to find a stage and tell others how great they are," Tony remarked. "You and your big guy have caused the second wave of chaos tonight. Someone''s bound to come looking for you."


    "Accountability? I was clearly performing a heroic act¡ªtaking down the mutated creatures hiding among humans and causing havoc. The cheers of the crowd are the best reward I could ask for."


    Tony couldn''t help but marvel at Duncan''s psychological resilience¡ªit was terrifyingly calm. He could even spar with Tony in the art of shamelessness.


    What piqued Tony''s interest more was the term "mutated species."


    "Jarvis."


    "Sir, after conducting a secondary data filtration, I''ve located seven suspicious files. However, they are all locked. Based on technical analysis, the organizations suspected to have knowledge of these mutated species include S.H.I.E.L.D., S.W.O.R.D., the Ten Rings, the Brotherhood, Atlantis¡­" Jarvis reported dutifully.


    Tony''s heart skipped a beat. This was only what Jarvis had uncovered from global information networks. What about the data it hadn''t found?


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    What exactly were these mutated species? Some kind of offshoot of mutants or Inhumans?


    "Alright, I''ll admit it¡ªyou successfully diverted my attention."


    Tonight had been intense for Tony. Any one of the combatants he''d faced could have easily crushed him and his armor.


    "Your armor is too weak and has too many limitations. It needs upgrades. Maybe you should create different models tailored for specific enemies. That''s my paid advice¡ª$100,000. Make sure it''s in my account. No need to thank me."


    After leaving that remark, Duncan turned with his alien creatures and walked away, heading back to his base on the outskirts of New York.


    "I need to start developing Mark IV, or even Mark V and VI¡­ No, maybe I should follow his advice and create specialized suits for different threats," Tony muttered.


    He instructed Jarvis to record and analyze all the information about the aliens, especially the Abomination Alien.


    To deal with such monsters, crafting a suit designed specifically to counter them didn''t seem like a bad idea.


    "Jarvis, wire him the money. Make it $100,001¡ªthe extra dollar is a tip from the infinitely charming Tony Stark. But seriously, that advice was cheap. I could''ve thought of it myself!" Tony grumbled.


    And so, the chaotic night came to an end.


    For most people, it was a terrifying and baffling night. They witnessed monsters fighting, and then it was all over without explanation.


    The public could do little but witness the military''s incompetence. However, global public opinion erupted, putting everyone with special abilities in the spotlight.


    As usual, the internet was flooded with anti-mutant rhetoric and theories about the mutant threat. Experts paraded across TV screens, earnestly debating the mutants as if they''d committed some heinous act on Broadway.


    The world was like a massive spinning vortex, with the descent into the abyss of chaos seeming inevitable. Duncan''s emergence was like a hard kick, accelerating the process for the world and everyone influential enough to affect it.


    Seated on the Abomination Alien''s shoulder, Duncan remained calm, returning to his lair under the watchful eyes of countless satellites.


    The sign for "Weyland Private Research Institute" still hung prominently. In the past, it had been a joke to many, but from now on, it wouldn''t be. No matter how informal the name sounded, it demanded attention.


    The death of the Abomination and the birth of the Abomination Alien¡ªits immense power far exceeding the former¡ªcould not be ignored.


    The creatures called "Aliens" became the subject of secret research and covetous desire at every level.


    These creatures were extraordinary. Looking back at human history and Earth itself, nothing like them had ever existed. They seemed capable of absorbing the strength of mature individuals and growing even stronger.


    Duncan and his alien squad returned unimpeded to their dilapidated building, where he even greeted Dum Dum from the neighboring building.


    "You won''t have much time to relax like this. All kinds of people will come looking for you," Dum Dum said hesitantly. Under normal circumstances, he should have taken Duncan back to S.H.I.E.L.D. for brainwashing or long-term detention to prevent social chaos.


    But at this point, that seemed incredibly difficult.


    When Duncan had been less of a threat, S.H.I.E.L.D. hadn''t paid much attention to him. Now that his talents and the aliens'' terrifying power were evident, pulling him in¡ªor taking him down¡ªfelt like it might be too late.


    Duncan ignored him.


    Reaching this point had been inevitable. Duncan knew the only ones he could fully trust were his aliens. Naturally, he had to seize every opportunity to grow his power.


    But organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D. would undoubtedly try to limit Duncan''s growth, keeping the alien population within a safe, controllable range¡ªor even wiping out all aliens, including Duncan himself.


    This fundamental conflict was irreconcilable.


    "The warrior alien born from the Abomination is just the beginning. There will be more powerful aliens under my command in the future. I won''t stop getting stronger. And since others won''t stop, I might as well keep pushing forward until the very end."

 Chapter 18: Intel on the Deviants

    S.H.I.E.L.D. had taken a keen interest in Duncan. Starting the next day, the number of agents surveilling him increased tenfold ¡ª ten masked operatives armed with dum-dum bullets took shifts monitoring him from a neighboring building.


    Various factions also approached Duncan, all outwardly polite, extending olive branches. Yet none received a direct response.


    This was expected. After the intense battle that resulted in the death of a general, the existence of the Xenomorphs and their potential as bioweapons became widely known. Duncan''s status skyrocketed, giving him the leverage to reject their overtures outright.


    The fact that Duncan hadn''t eliminated their envoys was, in itself, a baffling gesture that left even the most ruthless individuals puzzled.


    "During the Broadway incident, newly appointed Deputy Director George Stacy visited the scene to console injured civilians. He promised to request government funding to bolster the police force and prevent such incidents from recurring¡­"


    Duncan read aloud from the newspaper before tossing it aside. The article was filled with platitudes, but one detail caught his attention: George Stacy''s promotion. Clearly, this was a sugar-coated bribe to silence him.


    "Compared to dull news reports, watching certain individuals perform is far more entertaining. Even Kingpin sent someone, openly offering money to build goodwill. After all, no one turns down money. But I never expected someone to sneak into my territory. Have I been a poor host?"


    Duncan sighed, his expression unchanging. Yet, several Xenomorphs, previously lying still like large dogs, suddenly sprang into action, moving swiftly and silently through the building.


    Hidden in the shadows, Elektra''s heart raced, betraying her position. She wasn''t dealing with ordinary humans but someone far beyond normal capabilities, backed by a pack of Xenomorphs.


    The Xenomorphs moved with eerie coordination, their silence unnerving. Elektra abandoned any hope of stealth, realizing that a single misstep could mean her death. She cursed herself for venturing into such dangerous territory.


    A Runner Xenomorph appeared behind her, its tail poised to strike. If it hit, Elektra would be skewered like a kebab.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Elektra spun around, firing precise shots at the Xenomorphs'' limbs while carefully avoiding their acidic blood. She winced as the blood corroded the floor, leaving gaping holes.


    "Wait! I was only tracking Kingpin''s men and ended up here!" Elektra blurted out, realizing that stubbornness would only lead to a gruesome end.


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    Watching videos and analyzing combat scenarios was one thing; facing these creatures in person was another. And these were just the weakest Xenomorphs. If she encountered the Hulk-like one¡­


    What kind of power did Duncan, the man controlling these monsters, possess?


    "A clever excuse, far more believable than a poorly crafted lie. So, am I to assume you''re here on behalf of the Hand to provoke me? Or will you deny that the Hand knows nothing about me?" Duncan clapped slowly.


    Elektra''s expression darkened. Standing before Duncan, she felt utterly exposed. "That''s for the ''Five Fingers'' to decide. I''m just a ninja carrying out assassination missions. But personally, I doubt they''d be foolish enough to make an enemy of you."


    "No, your presence here is already a statement from those five old fossils."


    "From what I know, they''re still discussing you. No decision has been made yet," Elektra revealed, her resolve wavering as three more Xenomorphs emerged from the shadows, silently encircling her.


    No matter how she adjusted her stance or prepared to fight her way out, a Xenomorph always blocked her path.


    Elektra watched in dread as the Xenomorphs drooled, their inner jaws twitching. She gripped her weapons tightly, recalling the videos that showed their inner jaws ¡ª a terrifying weapon faster than bullets.


    Facing multiple Xenomorphs, especially with more appearing out of nowhere, would be a death sentence.


    "Elektra, you know so little about your five bosses. You don''t even understand how they gained their power, mastering magic and ninjutsu," Duncan remarked, studying the woman before him.


    Elektra, Daredevil''s former lover and a top-tier assassin for the Hand, was skilled in countless killing techniques. But without supernatural abilities, even the most trained human assassin fell short.


    In hand-to-hand combat, she might hold her own against a basic Xenomorph, but against specialized variants ¡ª like those born from vampires ¡ª she stood no chance.


    Duncan couldn''t fathom why the Hand would send someone like Elektra to confront him.


    He didn''t believe in coincidences. The "Five Fingers," who had stolen the power of the Dragon from K''un-Lun and extended their lifespans by centuries, were not the type to act without purpose.


    One of the Hand''s key abilities, granted by their demonic patron, The Beast, was resurrecting the dead to serve as assassins ¡ª somewhat akin to DC''s Court of Owls, though far less impressive.


    The Hand''s obsession with assassination, backed by The Beast, made Elektra''s presence here a clear message.


    "Let her go. This rookie probably knows nothing. I can offer some intel, though: those five are secretly investigating the Deviants and the ''Flying Man,''" Coulson interjected, stepping forward with a serious expression.


    He quickly added, "This one''s free."


    "Spare me, Coulson. I only needed money in the early stages. Once I had enough capital, extra dollars became irrelevant. But did I hear you correctly? ''Flying Man''?"


    "Yes, the mysterious figure in blue and gold armor who fled after you defeated him. He killed General Ross. Some online are calling him a Tier-0 super-criminal, on par with Magneto," Coulson explained matter-of-factly.


    "I doubt Magneto would consider Ikaris his equal. So, after displaying his power, Ikaris earns the title ''Flying Man''? He''s a proud individual. Once he learns of this, he''ll hunt down everyone who calls him that," Duncan said with a smirk.


    "Ikaris?"


    Coulson perked up, finally finding an opening. "Is that his name? You accused him of being a Deviant. What are the Deviants? How many like Ikaris exist?"


    Elektra, relieved to be ignored, cautiously retreated while observing Coulson and Duncan.


    If not for the Xenomorphs strategically blocking her escape routes, she would have fled already.


    The two men''s casual conversation, completely disregarding her, left the young Elektra both relieved and slightly disheartened.

 Chapter 19: You’re S.H.I.E.L.D.

    Duncan stared at the innocently blinking Coulson, convinced the man had no sincerity whatsoever.


    "Coulson, while we aren''t friends, I at least expect you not to deceive me with clumsy rhetoric."


    Duncan eyed Coulson with a strange look. "You''re S.H.I.E.L.D. ¡ª an organization with a history so ancient that your actions have directly shaped human civilization, not some fledgling group founded last century as the rumors claim¡­ Must I spell this out for you?"


    Duncan had studied this world thoroughly. Without mutants, things might have been simpler, but the existence of mutants ¡ª and their ties to the Eternals and Deviants ¡ª complicated everything.


    Across the multiverse, the origin of mutants was largely consistent: the Deviants. Thus, barring rare exceptions, Duncan had every reason to conclude that the mutants in his universe also descended from the long-extinct Deviants.


    The Celestials conducted experiments on countless life-bearing planets, creating two opposing races: the Eternals and the Deviants. Periodically, the Celestials would judge these creations. Those who passed were allowed to thrive; those who failed were eradicated.


    The Skrulls were a prime example. As a Deviant offshoot, they exterminated the Eternals on their planet, passed the Celestials'' judgment, and eventually became one of the three great interstellar empires in the galaxy. But the Skrulls grew arrogant. Their gods attempted to replicate the Celestials'' experiment on the Kree, only to backfire spectacularly. The Kree harnessed that power to rise at an explosive rate, becoming their greatest foes.


    The same pattern held for Earth''s Eternals and Deviants, both crafted by the Celestials. Long before Ikaris and his cohort of Eternals, there were older generations of Eternals and Deviants who dominated Earth over 20,000 years ago, establishing a flourishing civilization that shaped the planet''s history.


    Eons ago, when humans were still primitive, the Celestials designated Earth as a grand laboratory. They created the Eternals ¡ª beings of perfect genetics, ancestors of Thanos ¡ª and the Deviants ¡ª entities with limitless mutative genes, the rough progenitors of mutants.


    Earth 20,000 years ago was an era ruled by Eternals and Deviants. Back then, the Deviants were intelligent, technologically advanced beings who built cities and interstellar warships ¡ª a far cry from the feral, dog-like "Deviants" fought by Ikaris and his 10 Eternal comrades.


    The two races warred for dominance. The outcome mirrored the Skrulls'' story: the Deviants, with their infinite mutative genes, emerged victorious. The genetically "perfect" Eternals were defeated and fled Earth for Titan. During their exodus, they were attacked by the Kree Empire, dissected alive, and experimented on, birthing a new branch of humanity ¡ª the Inhumans, now led by the moon-dwelling Black Bolt.


    Though the Deviants won, their triumph was short-lived. The Celestials deemed them flawed and exterminated them. Yet their mutative genes survived, passed down through generations of humans, eventually manifesting as mutants.


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    This cataclysmic event 20,000 years ago altered Earth''s trajectory. Without it, mutants would not exist today. Conversely, the presence of mutants confirms that Earth once hosted ¡ª and destroyed ¡ª the ancient Deviants.


    The fallout cascaded through history: the power vacuum left by the two extinct races allowed demons like Zarathos to invade Earth; vengeful Spirits of Vengeance rained from the sky to combat them, one later merging with a motorcyclist to become the Ghost Rider.


    Even pivotal events like Apocalypse''s rise, the Norse gods battling a Celestial fleet, Zhang Heng of the Han Dynasty forcing a Celestial to give birth, Da Vinci crafting solar armor to expel a nascent Celestial from the sun, and the schism between S.H.I.E.L.D. and the Chinese counterpart, the Great Ten, all traced back to the Eternal-Deviant conflict.


    Thanos'' genocide of Titan''s Eternals ¡ª descendants of Earth''s originals ¡ª was no exception.


    Thus, upon learning mutants existed in this universe''s Earth, Duncan had braced himself. He''d scoured historical records for traces of these buried truths.


    As for S.H.I.E.L.D. ¡ª one of two branches born from the ancient "Holy Shield Brotherhood," a global supernatural organization founded during the Eastern Han Dynasty by figures like Zhang Heng ¡ª how could they know nothing about the Deviants?


    Even if S.H.I.E.L.D. lacked intel on the true Deviants exterminated 20,000 years ago (when humanity was still subordinate to Eternals and Deviants), surely they had records on the lesser, beast-like Deviants deployed by the Celestial Arishem over the past millennia? These crude Deviants were hunted by the 11 memory-wiped Eternals, Arishem''s disposable tools. Could S.H.I.E.L.D. truly have missed all that?


    Impossible.


    Coulson''s expression shifted drastically.


    "This¡­ doesn''t add up," Coulson frowned, locking eyes with Duncan. "We''ve combed through every file. You''re just a moderately clever scientist. There''s no way you could access this level of classified history!"


    "Why not?"


    "Because of your platform. You''ve never operated at a tier high enough to uncover secrets buried this deep."


    "Then, Coulson¡­ is it possible that what you''ve found about me is exactly what I wanted you to find?" Duncan smirked.


    Coulson fell silent. He still thought Duncan was bluffing, but the man''s knowledge defied logic.


    After a moment, Coulson abandoned prying into Duncan''s secrets and pivoted: "Let me guess ¡ª Ikaris isn''t one of those giant reptilian Deviants?"


    "If you mean the recent millennia''s Deviants, then no. They''re unrelated," Duncan replied cryptically.


    Coulson instantly grasped the implication, his eyes widening in shock.


    Unbelievable. Duncan even knows about the ancient Deviants who briefly ruled Earth? Even S.H.I.E.L.D., with its millennia of archives, had scarce records of that era!


    "I''ll report this conversation verbatim. So this is one of your trump cards. The question is: do you have a steady intelligence source¡­ or have you personally witnessed pivotal moments in human history?"


    Coulson''s interest in Duncan skyrocketed. He resolved to scour S.H.I.E.L.D.''s historical files for any trace of Duncan. Yes, he now suspected Duncan was an ancient figure who''d lived for centuries.


    Such beings weren''t unheard of. Take Azazel, the demonic mutant revered by Magneto ¡ª he''d survived since Apocalypse''s reign, over 5,000 years.


    Duncan shrugged dismissively.


    Coulson chose his next words carefully: "Since Ikaris isn''t a Deviant, that''s for the best. Otherwise, complications would arise¡­ You understand. If he were one of the true Deviants from 20,000 years ago, with their infinite mutative genes¡­"


    Duncan nodded. If Ikaris were linked to the ancient, sapient Deviants, Earth''s current mutants ¡ª already prone to supremacist ideologies ¡ª might weaponize that lineage to claim superiority over humanity. Some might already be digging into their origins.


    The implications would be catastrophic.

 Chapter 20: Mystique Discovers the Truth

    The issue of mutants is one of humanity''s most pressing internal conflicts.


    The Inhumans, loosely considered descendants of the Eternals, originally emerged among Earth''s human population, much like mutants. However, Black Bolt had since led their entire race to reside on the Moon.


    This race, capable of extraordinary powers and technological advancements, poses no threat to humanity. On the contrary, they can be seen as a sub-branch of the human species, a potential ally.


    In some parallel universes, Black Bolt is even a member of the "Illuminati," a cornerstone in protecting Earth.


    Mutants, however, are a different story. While they may be considered distant relatives of the Deviants, they should rightfully be regarded as a crucial branch of humanity¡ªfar more integrated into human society than, say, vampires.


    Yet, humans and mutants remain locked in endless conflict. In the eyes of many, the situation has become a zero-sum game¡ªone side must eliminate the other. And that is a disaster.


    "I understand your concerns," Duncan said. "But the fact is, I don''t trust certain mutant organizations, like the Brotherhood. There''s no way they''re ignorant about the history of the extinct Deviants. They''re too focused on proving their supposed superiority over humans. They must have investigated these historical events."


    Coulson nodded. "You''re right. There''s even an academic field called ''Mutant Origin Studies,'' which is quite popular among them."


    What Coulson feared most was mutants identifying Ikaris, the Eternal, as an ancient Deviant. That would complicate matters immensely.


    Unfortunately, what S.H.I.E.L.D. feared was exactly what Duncan hoped to see.


    Duncan harbored no particular grudge against the eleven Eternals, but he didn''t have any fondness for them either. He held even less regard for the inferior Deviants, whom he saw as little more than tools that Arishem had reused for millions of years.


    The Eternals and Deviants capable of procreation and building civilizations on planets like Skrullos and Earth were a completely different breed from the mindless versions seen elsewhere.


    Moreover, Duncan had already confronted Ikaris, the strongest fighter among the eleven Eternals.


    "With powers like a budget Superman," Duncan mused, "he might be weak, but if I could parasitize him, it''d be great."


    Seeing Duncan''s expression, Coulson stood up. "Well, that concludes this meeting. I have many other tasks to attend to. But, Mr. Duncan, you don''t want to see this world descend into chaos, do you?"


    Coulson cast a meaningful glance at the Xenomorphs surrounding them, his eyes filled with deep apprehension.


    One of his key objectives in coming here was to observe these terrifying creatures up close.


    To see them parasitize Abomination and produce an offspring surpassing its host''s combat prowess was enough to send chills down Coulson''s spine, despite his extensive experience.


    What was their reproductive capacity? What were their limits for parasitism? Could they only infect mammals? Only ordinary creatures? And what about¡­ gods?


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    This universe wasn''t lacking in gods. Many advanced interstellar civilizations had their own pantheons, like the Skrulls, who worshipped Skrull gods.


    Coulson now knew these creatures were called Xenomorphs and confirmed their extreme obedience to Duncan, though the reason for this remained unclear.


    There were far too many mysteries surrounding the Xenomorphs. And Duncan, who had somehow gained complete control over them, was an even bigger enigma.


    As Coulson left, he pointed at Elektra and said, "If you don''t mind, I''d be happy to take her with me. The Hand has an infamous reputation and a record of major crimes."


    "I do mind. She''s staying with me."


    "Alright," Coulson replied, not pushing the matter. With a worried expression, he departed.


    Elektra, left behind, stood frozen, her face pale and her spirits crushed.


    After eavesdropping for so long, she had pieced together many startling revelations. The Deviants seemed connected to the Eternals? That flying man wasn''t a Deviant? It was all an incomprehensible mess.


    But Elektra didn''t care about any of it. She only wanted to escape.


    "The problem now, Ms. Elektra, is that you can''t escape, nor can you defeat me," Duncan said as he approached her. "Whether you came here to hunt down Kingpin or on orders from the Five Fingers, you''ve fallen into my hands."


    Duncan scrutinized Elektra from head to toe, then remarked, "You''ve also learned many secrets you shouldn''t know¡ªlike the Deviants in Alaska. That''s beyond your clearance."


    Truthfully, Elektra had potential. Properly utilized, she could be of some help.


    "If you''re going to kill me, just do it."


    Elektra stared at Duncan as he approached, her voice defiant, though her eyes gleamed with resolve.


    She couldn''t defeat the Xenomorphs, but surely she could take down a single human?


    When Duncan was within a meter of her, Elektra moved. A dagger shot out from her sleeve, aimed straight at Duncan''s throat.


    She wasn''t trying to kill him, only to take him hostage and use him as leverage to intimidate the Xenomorphs, giving her a chance to escape.


    Her speed, timing, and courage were impeccable. As a world-class assassin, she couldn''t imagine failing at such close range.


    Clang!


    Duncan nonchalantly extended two fingers, effortlessly pinching the dagger''s tip. His precision and speed were terrifying.


    Elektra felt as though her blade had struck adamantium. No matter how much force she applied, she couldn''t push it forward even an inch.


    "How is this possible?!" Elektra froze, her expression shifting. She blurted out, "You''re a superhuman? Otherwise, how could you have such strength?"


    "By your standards, yes," Duncan replied. "But don''t envy me, miss. Soon, you''ll be one too. And then, you won''t be so stubborn."


    Duncan opened his hand.


    A Facehugger crawled forward.


    "It''s beautiful, isn''t it? So obedient. And it likes you."


    "Wait, no! Don''t!"


    Elektra, terrified, tried to resist, but the Xenomorphs swarmed her, pinning her down. She attempted to bite down on the poison hidden in her teeth, but a Xenomorph messenger forced her jaw open.


    As something warm and white entered her mouth and slid down her throat, Elektra lost consciousness.


    To be clear, Duncan had no intention of letting the Facehugger burst from her chest. Even if the process succeeded, the resulting Xenomorph would merely be a drone, incapable of matching the power of an Abomination-Xenomorph hybrid.


    All Duncan needed was the "parasitism" stage.


    Few knew the Facehugger had another function: it could implant its genetic material without chest-bursting.


    This method allowed the host to gain the genetic strength stored within the Facehugger.


    Duncan was the only one capable of controlling the Facehugger to prevent chest-bursting. This was how he had transformed from an ordinary human into a superhuman capable of withstanding a punch from Abomination.


    Using this approach, the stronger the Xenomorphs became and the better the genes they acquired, the more Duncan''s power would exponentially grow.


    Duncan waved his hand, dismissing the Xenomorphs. He left Elektra where she was, knowing she could no longer escape his control¡ªneither in body nor in mind.


    Before leaving, Duncan cast an imperceptible glance at a messenger Xenomorph lurking in the corner.


    As the Xenomorphs dispersed, a seemingly ordinary messenger Xenomorph in the corner discreetly revealed a signal transmitter. Hidden from Duncan and the other Xenomorphs, it sent out a transmission.


    "This is Mystique. I''ve successfully infiltrated and obtained critical information: the flying man is a Deviant, and the location is Alaska!"

 Chapter 21: The Future Lies in Alaska

    Yes, Mystique had long since infiltrated Duncan''s team. With her shape-shifting abilities, transforming into an alien required considerable effort to gather various intelligence on the aliens to avoid any discrepancies in appearance and behavior.


    She succeeded, blending in as the number of aliens increased by a few.


    The only concern was that Duncan could accurately sense the mental state of each alien, which would inevitably expose her. But so far, everything seemed normal.


    Moreover, she was fortunate to obtain the most crucial intelligence from Duncan and Coulson''s riddle-like conversation¡ªthe information that the Flyman was indeed a Deviant!


    Yes, the Brotherhood had dealings with various mutants and naturally came into contact with those ancient beings who had lived for thousands of years, gathering some fragmented information.


    In the past, this information was practically useless, only serving some purpose during propaganda campaigns against mutants, arguing that mutants and ordinary humans were fundamentally different.


    But now, things were different.


    "The origin of the mutant race is unknown, but according to Duncan and S.H.I.E.L.D.''s confirmation, Ikaris is highly likely to be a Deviant!"


    Mystique frantically typed on her palm-sized device, her fingers flying.


    Even she couldn''t hide her emotional turmoil and shock.


    Deviants... the source of mutants, had they really appeared?


    But upon closer thought, since there are mutants who can live for thousands or even tens of thousands of years, the appearance of a Deviant who has lived for tens of thousands of years shouldn''t be too surprising.


    The X-gene of mutants can awaken a myriad of bizarre abilities, and the infinite mutation gene of Deviants is even more so. Awakening a longevity superpower seems quite normal.


    She was unaware of the Celestials and had no idea that the Celestials had banded together to personally exterminate the Deviants. The intelligent Deviants who had built a prosperous civilization twenty thousand years ago couldn''t possibly have survived to this day.


    Soon, new information came back.


    "Raven, is the intelligence reliable? Are you sure those two aren''t playing you?"


    "That possibility can''t be ruled out, but it''s completely worth the risk. If the aliens obey Duncan''s commands not through the worst-case scenario¡ªtelepathy¡ªbut through visual recognition, heat sensing, or pheromones, then Duncan can''t possibly discover me."


    Raven was confident in her shape-shifting abilities. As long as it wasn''t a problem with the mind, psyche, or thoughts, nothing else could go wrong.


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    She urgently reported her significant discovery to the recipient¡ªMagneto.


    "Alaska? I understand. I will personally go to find our true ancestors! If the information is accurate, we mutants can genetically separate from humans, which will greatly unite our brothers and sisters worldwide!"


    Many mutants, including the X-Men, still identify themselves as part of the human race to some extent, hence unwilling to stand against humanity, as it would be akin to killing themselves.


    But if it could be confirmed that mutants and Deviants are one and the same, it would be an earth-shattering event, directly rewriting the entire history of mutants!


    On a steel island in the Pacific, Magneto closed the communication, his emotions fluctuating.


    He sat on his throne, lost in thought for a long time, even recalling the painful memories from the moment he awakened his powers.


    "Decades of effort have finally seen a day of reward... I have found a breakthrough in the inevitable future of mutant extinction!"


    Magneto suppressed his excitement and summoned Destiny.


    Destiny, a highly unique mutant, wore a mask with no eye holes, possessing the powerful ability to see through fate.


    With just a glance, she could see countless futures.


    In the Brotherhood, Destiny held a very special position. She rarely participated in most operations, only appearing when Magneto needed her, providing crucial intelligence.


    The last time she appeared was a few years ago when she informed Magneto and Professor X that the future of mutants was one of extinction, with no other possibilities.


    "A new destiny has emerged," Magneto raised his voice. "Our ancestors, the source of the X-gene¡ªthe Deviants have reappeared in this world. I believe he is not alone; there must be other Deviant kin!"


    "As a leader, you shouldn''t be overly emotional. It will become your fatal weakness," Destiny''s voice was icy.


    Magneto calmed down: "I need you to prophesize the future once more."


    "I have already prophesized. What do you want to know? Will the emergence of Deviants bring a new life to mutants?"


    "Isn''t that so? Or is the information about Deviants in Alaska false?" Magneto retorted.


    "It''s true. I have seen new images; there is indeed a group of Deviants in Alaska," Destiny said coldly.


    She also saw that the reptilian-like Deviants that had appeared on Earth over the past few millennia were fundamentally different from the intelligent life Deviants that Magneto hoped for, who had built a civilization tens of thousands of years ago, but both were indeed Deviants.


    Destiny saw some things, but she chose not to speak, as the outcome for the future remained the same. If there was any difference, it was that...


    Since the man named Duncan appeared with his aliens, the timeline for mutant extinction seemed to have significantly accelerated.


    But considering that extinction was the only path, dying sooner or later made no difference.


    "Among the countless fragmented futures, the overall trend remains unchanged. The fate of mutants is still extinction. If you expect some different changes in this process, there are indeed some."


    Destiny coldly stated: "The manner in which mutants perish has become more peculiar, transforming into another form."


    Magneto frowned, somewhat irritated. He wanted more specific information, but Destiny herself could only see fragmented, chaotic, and even reversed but overwhelmingly numerous images. How could she possibly detail everything to Magneto?


    Even if she spoke until her lifespan ended, she couldn''t finish.


    She also lacked the patience.


    Destiny, the mutant who could see through fate, had a natural barrier with other mutants¡ªa perception of reality formed after seeing the only certain future.


    Destiny left, paying no further attention to Magneto.


    "At least there has been a change, perishing in another form? Then, I will find a way to lead my people toward the path of freedom! With my active intervention, I will ensure it!"


    Magneto stood up, flew into the sky, and looked towards the direction of Alaska, his eyes burning with madness and deep anticipation.


    According to the intelligence leaked by Duncan, Magneto confirmed that the future of mutants might very well lie in Alaska!


    As for the possibility of it being a trap... a joke, even if it were a trap, Magneto believed that with his strength, he had the right to step into it!

 Chapter 22: Here Comes the Little Flyboy

    Alaska.


    Relatively speaking, this is a desolate land, sparsely populated.


    What it''s most famous for are its dwindling gold mines and sled dogs.


    But few know that, apart from Alaskan dogs, there are also low-tier Deviants that the Celestial known as Arishem dropped on Earth thousands of years ago.


    Ikaris floated high in the sky, looking down at the thick layer of snow beneath him. In the perpetually frozen deep lake, a large number of Deviants lay dormant.


    The eleven of them had spent thousands of years fighting these things, a battle that almost spanned the entire history of human civilization.


    "What exactly are those things..." Ikaris''s expression was extremely grim as he stared down at the claw marks on his chest. The wounds had long since healed, but the shock of encountering the Xenomorphs lingered.


    This was the first time Ikaris had encountered creatures so similar to Deviants, capable of rapid growth like them, yet fundamentally different in nature.


    He stood bathed in the falling snow.


    At that moment, another figure flew toward him, not particularly fast, but his arrival carried an unmistakable sense of overwhelming pressure.


    "Magneto?"


    Ikaris frowned slightly. Having followed human history, he naturally knew of this man. At the same time, he looked further into the distance and noticed a red figure rapidly teleporting more mutants to the scene.


    "Azazel?"


    Ikaris''s frown deepened, filled with doubt and unease.


    From a distance, Azazel looked up, his gaze meeting Ikaris''s, and then he flashed a meaningful smile.


    During the Age of Apocalypse four thousand years ago, Azazel had been one of Apocalypse''s top soldiers. He had lived all the way into the modern era, witnessing all sorts of powerful individuals and major historical events firsthand.


    In Ikaris''s eyes, Azazel was far more noteworthy than Magneto.


    "So, you''re the Flyboy?"


    Magneto flew to a spot not far from Ikaris and spoke slowly. His first sentence made Ikaris lose his composure.


    "Fly... what?"


    "FLYMAN. That''s what everyone calls you."


    Magneto ignored Ikaris''s changing expression, unable to contain his excitement as he quickly asked, "You''re one of the Deviants, aren''t you? How have you survived to this day? Longevity, or time travel?"


    "Magneto, watch your words. I, Ikaris, could never be a Deviant!"


    "No need to hide it. Even S.H.I.E.L.D. has confirmed your identity as a Deviant, not to mention Duncan." As Magneto spoke, a glint of eagerness flashed in his eyes, his sharp gaze scrutinizing Ikaris''s body from head to toe.


    S.H.I.E.L.D. was inclined to believe this guy''s identity.


    Hmm, but this strong physique, elegant lines, flawless skin... it doesn''t quite match the characteristics of a Deviant.


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    Deviants, as the name suggests, are on average inferior to the Eternals. Their genes undergo rampant mutations, resulting in a bizarre variety of appearances and abilities among their kind.


    Ikaris''s appearance was far too refined.


    Ikaris raised his voice: "I am an Eternal! Born pure, perfect, powerful, and free from genetic defects!"


    "An Eternal?"


    Magneto frowned, the enthusiasm in his eyes cooling. "I remember the Eternals as nothing more than defeated strays, driven to extinction by the Deviants. How can you be an Eternal? If you''re an Eternal, how have you survived on Earth?"


    "What nonsense are you spouting? If it weren''t for us Eternals constantly hunting Deviants, how could you humans have lived so smoothly over the past few millennia?" Ikaris''s anger flared. "Deviants are nothing but beasts that feed on humans. You''re insane to sympathize with them!"


    He wanted to vent his anger by killing Duncan and the Xenomorphs but had failed. Now, this mutant had inexplicably shown up, spouting a bunch of incomprehensible nonsense.


    Ikaris was actually millions of years old, but his memories had been repeatedly wiped by Arishem, and he had been sent to various planets to carry out missions. In reality, he only had memories of the past few thousand years on Earth and knew little about the planet''s ancient history, let alone the fact that a group of Eternals had fled Earth twenty thousand years ago.


    "That''s a real shame. You''re not a Deviant, and you''re filled with prejudice, insulting Deviants. You''re a damn racist."


    Magneto had completely lost his patience. "Unfortunately for you, I happen to be the most extreme kind of racist."


    Given his temperament, it was rare for him to engage in a conversation like this. After confirming that Ikaris wasn''t who he was looking for, he was even more disappointed.


    Eternals? What can Eternals do? These worthless beings are incapable of anything.


    "Since you''ve survived to this day, there must be something special about you. Capturing you might give me a chance to find the real Deviants."


    Magneto didn''t waste any more words. He was never known for his patience, and as someone seeking identity and connection with the Deviants, he had nothing more to say to the Eternals. He immediately took action.


    A powerful magnetic field erupted, and in Magneto''s hands, it was like a docile child, completely enveloping Ikaris.


    Ikaris was unusually furious. According to the modus operandi of the eleven Eternals, they wouldn''t easily interfere in human affairs outside of dealing with Deviants.


    But now, Ikaris truly couldn''t hold back.


    Whoosh!


    Golden heat vision blasted out.


    Magneto''s expression remained cold, clearly having anticipated this. With a wave of his hand, metal from all directions surged in, blocking the heat vision.


    On Earth, magnetic fields are everywhere. Using them to control the abundant metal minerals was undoubtedly the most efficient way to fight.


    But against an Eternal like Ikaris, Magneto was also using the magnetic field to interfere with Ikaris''s physical form.


    "Hmm? You can fly freely without using Earth''s magnetic field?" Magneto was genuinely surprised.


    "Using a planet''s magnetic field can only make things slightly easier for me. How could I possibly rely on something like that!"


    Ikaris could fly by harnessing his own immense energy. He could even leave Earth and fly through space in his flesh-and-blood body!


    Much like Captain Marvel.


    The battle between the two powerhouses officially began.


    Ikaris darted through the overwhelming cloud of metal, his golden heat vision shooting in all directions, cutting through everything in its path and piercing countless incoming metal minerals.


    But Magneto''s abilities weren''t limited to controlling metal. He was also using magnetic forces to strongly disrupt Ikaris''s bodily magnetic field.


    An invisible energy net formed, trapping Ikaris and compressing his movement space.


    "You''re like a sparrow flitting around. It''s best if you stay in a cage," Magneto said.


    Ikaris kept moving, letting out a cold snort. Feeling the discomfort within his body, he forcefully surged upward, looking down at Magneto from high above.


    In the next moment, he plummeted downward. Magneto quickly retreated, and as far as the eye could see, countless materials were under his control, like an endless river, continuously surging toward Ikaris.


    All around, the ground shook and the mountains trembled, as if the entire world had been thrown into chaos.


    The spectacle was earth-shattering, but for the time being, Magneto couldn''t easily subdue the formidable Ikaris. Suppressing him was one thing, but killing him would take more time.


    "Give up. My people are here. You have nowhere to run," Magneto said.


    One after another, mutants radiating powerful auras were rapidly closing in on Ikaris.


    "Run? You think I''ll run a second time?"


    Ikaris''s hair was disheveled as he gritted his teeth and let out a cold laugh. He suddenly looked down at the shattered ice lake. "Let''s see who''s running now!"

 Chapter 23: Magnetos "Grand Invitation"

    At this moment, the Broadway incident had yet to subside, and while the world was still grappling with the surge in superhuman crimes, another earth-shattering piece of news spread across all major organizations and powers.


    Magneto''s Brotherhood had suddenly appeared in Alaska, engaging in a fierce battle with a formidable enemy. It seemed they had also been ambushed by a group of mysterious, powerful individuals, suffering devastating losses!


    Rumors circulated that several key members had been killed.


    This was a shocking development. The one who had been dealt a blow was none other than Magneto¡ªa seasoned professional who had spent years honing his skills and dedicating himself to his cause. A man who was either in prison or on his way there, a mutant leader whom humans dared not kill even if they managed to capture him!


    Who had dared to attack Magneto?


    And who could possibly make Magneto suffer such a defeat, causing the entire Brotherhood to suffer heavy losses?


    On various dark web platforms, countless ambiguous messages spread like wildfire, making it difficult to distinguish truth from lies. Rumors ran rampant, and chaos ensued.


    Anyone with even a hint of status wanted to gather information, at the very least to find out who had managed to take down Magneto.


    Who on Earth possessed such power?


    In the dilapidated Weyland building, Duncan sat on a couch, idly swirling a glass in his hand. It wasn''t wine¡ªjust plain water.


    He stared at the computer screen in front of him, taking in all the rumors circulating on the dark web.


    "So, Magneto took a hit? Just Ikaris alone clearly doesn''t have that kind of power. If he wasn''t beaten to death by Magneto, he should consider himself lucky. It''s likely that their battle caused the Deviants frozen in the lake to awaken."


    Duncan pondered for a moment, suspecting that other Eternals might have joined the fight. He recalled that among the eleven Eternals, one possessed super speed, much like the Flash from the neighboring universe. This ability allowed them to quickly transport their comrades from around the world to the front lines, making it a top-tier skill for calling reinforcements, second only to teleportation.


    If Magneto''s Brotherhood had to face both the Eternals and the Deviants simultaneously, and without being familiar with their combat styles, it was only natural that they would suffer a major defeat.


    "Magneto is a staunch extremist. I wonder what his expression will be when he realizes that Ikaris isn''t the kind of Deviant he imagined, but instead, the ''ancestors'' he idolizes are actually a bunch of big black dogs crawling on the ground."


    Duncan slumped back into the couch, muttering to himself and letting out a soft chuckle, clearly in a very good mood.


    Around him, a group of Xenomorphs and one human gathered, guarding his safety.


    In the entire building, aside from Duncan, only the Queen in the underground cavern was more important.


    "Was this intentional? Did you feed false information to Magneto?"


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    Elektra''s face was stiff. Despite her efforts to control her emotions, she occasionally let out a look of resentment. She was constantly devising escape plans, fantasizing about how she would carve beautiful scars into Duncan''s calm and handsome face once she regained her freedom.


    Elektra wasn''t anxious about the mutants'' predicament; she was anxious about her own life and actions being controlled by Duncan.


    "Why do you say that, rookie assassin lady?" Duncan said. "I just had a chat with a S.H.I.ELD. agent. Even you didn''t understand what was said, so how could Magneto have known?"


    "Let''s not talk about mutants. What exactly do I need to do to satisfy you?" Elektra desperately wanted to kill this man, but every time she entertained the thought, the parasite in her chest would wriggle¡ªa clear and terrifying warning.


    This feeling was utterly panic-inducing. However, Elektra had also gained enhancements from the Xenomorph genes¡ªsuperior strength, speed, and regenerative abilities. Her power had skyrocketed, elevating her beyond the ordinary. This made her both happy and unhappy at the same time.


    Duncan raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What makes you think you can earn your freedom from me while still alive? Or would you rather work for an organization like the Hand than serve me? At least I''m generous enough to enhance your abilities and extend your lifespan."


    Elektra opened her full, red lips but found herself at a loss for words.


    In a way, the man wasn''t wrong. Between two equally unsavory options, she seemed to have no choice but to pick the lesser evil.


    "What do you need me to do, new boss?" Elektra asked, as if all her strength had drained away, her head bowing low.


    "Just stay by my side. I can''t handle everything myself. For example, when I finally decide to wipe out the Hand," Duncan said casually.


    Elektra looked puzzled. "You might not realize how powerful the Hand is. With just you and these Xenomorphs¡­"


    "No, I''m well aware. I also know who the true masters behind the Hand are¡ªthose otherworldly entities from beyond Earth. Their fate is already sealed," Duncan replied.


    As they spoke, a Xenomorph walked up behind Duncan. This wasn''t unusual; Xenomorphs weren''t statues. Protecting Duncan''s safety didn''t mean standing still indefinitely.


    But the moment this Xenomorph moved to attack Duncan¡­


    Elektra, who had been seething with resentment and despair just moments ago, transformed as if a switch had been flipped. Driven by instinct to protect Duncan, she instinctively drew her blade and blocked the claw aimed at Duncan''s neck.


    Clang!


    Elektra intercepted the strike.


    At the same time, the other Xenomorphs sprang into action, perfectly coordinated. In an instant, they disarmed the rogue Xenomorph, severing its limbs and piercing its shoulder with a tail, lifting it into the air.


    "I was wondering how long you could hold out. I didn''t expect you to break so quickly," Duncan said calmly, turning around.


    The Xenomorph''s form shifted, eventually transforming into a person.


    Mystique, Raven.


    "You knew from the start?" Raven stared intently at Duncan.


    "Of course. I share an inseparable mental connection with every Xenomorph. So when you slipped in, it was like finding a curry-flavored vegetable patty in a box of delicious egg tarts. Awkward, don''t you think?"


    Duncan sighed, patting Mystique''s cheek.


    Hmm, nice texture, he thought, then gave it a firm pinch.


    Mystique showed no reaction. This level of interaction was trivial, incapable of eliciting any form of emotional response from her.


    Had she not been certain that this man was utterly obsessed with Xenomorphs, she might have tried seduction. But after some thought, she concluded that such a calm and collected man would likely be immune to such tactics, so she abandoned the idea.


    "Why?" Raven pressed, unwilling to give up. "Why did you deliberately spread false information, using me to strike at the Brotherhood? Maybe you''re a mutant too, and your abilities come from the X-gene¡­"


    "True, that''s theoretically possible. But I could also be from Professor X''s side, sent to weaken you," Duncan said. "However, I never gave you any concrete information. You chose to believe what you wanted to believe. It was your own actions that led to your people''s deaths, not mine."


    Raven frowned, her gaze fixed on Duncan. After a moment, a device on her arm vibrated. "Erik wants to talk to you."


    Duncan ordered a Xenomorph to release Raven''s arm.


    Raven didn''t attempt anything foolish, like attacking Duncan to escape. Instead, she activated the device''s speaker.


    "If this was your way of sending me an invitation from the start, I must say, it worked. This little game of yours was quite effective."


    Magneto''s voice rang out: "Kid, let''s talk now¡ªabout the true Deviants. In return, I''ll give you what you want: those damned, lowly reptiles that crawled out of the lake to ambush us!!"

 Chapter 24: Do You Know How Much This Hurts Mutants?!

    "You sound like you''re in a bad mood. Did you lose a lot of people in Alaska?"


    Facing Magneto, even in this unconventional first conversation, Duncan remained calm. He showed no signs of nervousness, anxiety, or any other unnecessary emotions.


    Just by listening to Magneto''s hoarse yet unrestrained voice, filled with anger and frustration, Duncan already had a good idea of the situation.


    Unlike other major organizations that could monitor the situation in real-time via satellites, Duncan didn''t know the specifics of the battle.


    But considering how quickly Magneto had picked up on the subtle signals Duncan had sent and responded so promptly...


    "From what I know, the Deviants are strong, but they alone shouldn''t be enough to cripple your Brotherhood," Duncan said.


    "There were also several Eternals involved in the fight, each with powerful and practical abilities. Under any other circumstances, I could have killed them all single-handedly! But they escaped too quickly!"


    Magneto''s tone grew slightly heavier.


    For someone of Magneto''s caliber and composure to show such obvious emotional fluctuation, it was clear that the Brotherhood''s losses were far greater than Duncan had initially estimated.


    Or perhaps it was because Magneto had failed to achieve his goal, damaging his authority in the process?


    "Also, I refuse to acknowledge those crawling creatures on the ice as Deviants. Kid, no matter how much you know or where you got your information, you''d better rethink your words!"


    At this moment, Magneto finally revealed the discovery that he found most intolerable.


    Losing people would only make Magneto angry, but now, it was beyond mere anger.


    "Being attacked by both the Eternals and the Deviants would cause casualties for any organization on this planet. That''s something you shouldn''t dwell on."


    To make the conversation easier, Duncan grabbed Mystique''s seemingly slender but well-trained arm and pulled her closer.


    Mystique remained expressionless. She had experienced many dangerous and complex situations, and her mental fortitude was well-honed. Being humiliated by Duncan in various ways was just a minor scene to her. She had already prepared herself for this.


    This was something that Elektra, who was still new to the game, couldn''t handle.


    "However, if you''re trying to deny that these animal-like Deviants have any connection to mutants, there''s no need for that," Duncan said.


    "So you''re saying these inferior creatures are the ancestors of mutants?"


    "No, of course not. The Deviants are closely related to mutants, that much is true. But it''s not the Deviants that attacked you," Duncan explained.


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    Magneto fell silent for a moment. "There''s more than one type of Deviant?"


    "There are many types. On Earth alone, there have been two kinds. One is the inferior creatures you mentioned, which you''ve already encountered. The other went extinct 20,000 years ago due to an irresistible force."


    Duncan counted on his fingers: "Beyond Earth, in the vast universe, there are even more types of Deviants. Some have gone extinct, while others are thriving, having built civilizations far more advanced than Earth''s."


    "That''s a lot of information. I can''t help but wonder if you''ve gone mad," Magneto said.


    "In this world, it''s the mad ones who lead the way. You don''t think those who follow the rules and love order would become great revolutionaries, do you?" Duncan spread his hands and then slowly closed them. "Thank you for the compliment."


    For a moment, Magneto was genuinely unsure.


    Was this a lie? Or perhaps a lie mixed with some truth?


    "What about the Eternals?" Mystique suddenly asked.


    "Similarly, for every type of Deviant, there''s a corresponding type of Eternal. That''s the iron rule. The creators of this world surely love to create in pairs," Duncan said.


    "Tell me, what exactly happened 20,000 years ago? You''d better not lie. Tell me everything you know, and I''ll find a way to verify the truth..." Magneto''s voice came through the communication device.


    "Interesting. If I''m not mistaken, you''re already planning how to crush my forces, capture me, and interrogate me for information, aren''t you? In fact, you''re probably thinking about who has telepathic abilities so you can extract knowledge directly from my brain?" Duncan let out a low chuckle.


    In fact, Magneto was indeed planning to do just that. Given the gravity of the situation, how could he rely solely on Duncan''s words? After all, Duncan wasn''t like Professor X, a long-established figure with a proven track record.


    Not even S.H.I.E.L.D. could protect Duncan. That was Magneto''s stance.


    "If you think I''m scheming something nefarious, you''ll get nothing from me. Don''t underestimate my power. I have many means to use at critical moments, or you''ll suffer greatly, just like what happened when the Deviants and Eternals suddenly appeared and attacked you," Duncan said slowly.


    "I''ve captured a few Deviants. I can hand them over to your pets for hosting."


    "Bingo! I love conversations like this. That solves the problem, doesn''t it? Ten Deviants per question. Fair price," Duncan clapped his hands.


    "Five. Take it or leave it."


    Magneto couldn''t be bothered to haggle over numbers with someone like Duncan, who had been a nobody not long ago. Given his personality, if he weren''t so unsure about Duncan, he would have already taken action.


    Why use words when force could solve the problem?


    But until he could confirm Duncan''s true origins and sources of information, he could afford to be patient for a short while.


    "By the way, among the Deviants you captured, is there a Deviant leader?" Duncan had long been eyeing that cunning and powerful leader-level Deviant.


    "If you''re talking about the largest and strongest one, no. If it weren''t for that beast, the Brotherhood wouldn''t have suffered such heavy losses. That creature even took Juggernaut in the end..."


    "Wait, did you say Juggernaut? The Deviant leader took Juggernaut?" Duncan, who had been indifferent until now, was visibly surprised. "Is this Juggernaut a proper mutant?"


    Mystique suddenly interjected with a mocking tone: "You''ve been putting on an act all this time, but you''ve just lowered your performance at the most inopportune moment. Do you have some special feelings for that oaf Juggernaut?"


    Magneto, thousands of miles away, also looked puzzled.


    Juggernaut was one of the Brotherhood''s key members, Professor X''s brother, with an indestructible body and immense strength. He was a bit dim-witted, but was Juggernaut really worth Duncan''s surprise?


    He hadn''t interacted with Duncan up close and remained silent, waiting for Mystique''s judgment.


    But before Mystique could speak, Duncan spoke first.


    "Folks, whether you believe it or not, if luck is against us, and Juggernaut is indeed what I suspect... we''re in big trouble."


    Because Juggernaut possessed a reserve of energy far beyond ordinary imagination, something that was rarely activated.


    And the source of that power was also a multiversal-level entity...

 Chapter 25: Returning to Old Habits Should Be Fun

    In Duncan''s understanding, no matter what the situation, whenever mutants are involved, simple matters tend to become complicated.


    Political and social issues are just one aspect. If we judge purely based on power, there are a few troublesome individuals among the mutant community who are hard to pin down.


    A prime example is the Omega-level mutants, who possess limitless potential. Interestingly, the same mutant might be Omega-level in one universe but mediocre and lacking potential in another. The X-gene, derived from the Deviants, always carries various uncertainties.


    And Juggernaut is precisely one of those individuals who demands attention¡ªstrictly speaking, Juggernaut isn''t even a mutant.


    In most universes, Juggernaut''s power comes from an ancient and terrifying force¡ªthe supreme demon of the multiverse, residing beyond the dimensions of the Crimson Cosmos¡ªCyttorak!


    Many powerful spells used by the Kamar-Taj lineage draw their power from Cyttorak.


    It''s unclear whether Cyttorak has a peculiar obsession with the Infinity Stones or if it''s just a twisted sense of humor, but he generally doesn''t mind others using a bit of His power. However, he enjoys scattering Crimson Gems across the multiverse.


    Each Crimson Gem acts as an anchor point, directly connecting to Cyttorak and receiving his immense power.


    And in most universes, the one who bears the power of the Crimson Gem is none other than... Juggernaut!


    "The Deviants have the ability to absorb the life force and genes of various life forms, and they can alter their own forms based on the genes they absorb. You all know this, right? I''m guessing many of your comrades have been absorbed by the Deviants," Duncan said.


    Raven sneered, "What does that prove? That ability is despicable, but it''s still far from matching you."


    Duncan shrugged, "Be wary of the Deviant leader who captured Juggernaut. Do you want to guess why that leader didn''t take anyone else but Juggernaut? If luck is against us, you''ll soon be facing an unimaginably powerful enemy."


    "The Deviant leader who absorbed Juggernaut?" Magneto clearly didn''t believe it.


    He knew Juggernaut''s strength all too well. At most, it would make the Deviant leader''s body indestructible, but that didn''t mean it couldn''t be dealt with.


    However, disbelief aside, Magneto had seen his fair share of storms and had full confidence in his own power. But since the mysterious Duncan had emphasized this point, he had already raised his guard.


    "Let''s start the transaction. You asked a question, and I''ve answered. Now, send me five Deviants. I still have some trust in the reputation of one of the two poles of the mutant world," Duncan said.


    "What exactly happened to the Eternals and Deviants 20,000 years ago?" Magneto asked his question.


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    "The two sides fought for control of Earth."


    "And the result?"


    "That''s another question. Pay the deposit first."


    "?"


    "Don''t stay silent. Even if I tell you who won or lost, you''ll definitely ask about the fate of these two races and why they disappeared from Earth. The value of this information far exceeds your imagination," Duncan replied.


    When it came to the Celestials, beings who started at the level of strong Skyfathers, such information was worth exchanging for several batches of Deviants.


    The two sides ended their communication.


    As for Raven, Magneto didn''t mention asking Duncan to release her. Both sides understood that anyone with half a brain wouldn''t sabotage their own channels during the initial stages of cooperation.


    As long as Raven was alive, she could serve as a communication medium for Duncan and observe him up close. Once valuable secrets were extracted, she could report them to Magneto immediately.


    Duncan stood up, stretched, and ordered the Xenomorphs to release Raven.


    "Find a way to bandage yourself," Duncan said casually, glancing at the penetrating wound on Raven''s shoulder.


    Raven remained expressionless, simply manipulating the nearby muscle cells to wriggle and reshape, quickly repairing the injury.


    "You seem a bit anxious. I believe it''s not because of Erik, but because of Juggernaut," Raven observed Duncan''s expression with a sharp gaze.


    Duncan paused, then admitted, "Anxious? For a moment, yes. As I said, you know nothing about Juggernaut and have no understanding of what might happen in the future."


    "You mentioned it would only happen if luck is against us. I''m more curious about what exactly makes Juggernaut so significant to you?"


    An indestructible body? Such an ability is insignificant in the face of Magneto. All he needs to do is bury Juggernaut underground and pile metal on top of him. No matter how tough the body, it would be useless.


    Duncan smiled slightly but didn''t respond. Instead, he took out a Xenomorph egg and placed it in front of Raven.


    "I''ve been wanting to sneak underground to see what''s going on, but the Xenomorphs have always stopped me. This time, it should be fine, right?" Raven said, her heart skipping a beat as she watched the egg open, though she maintained a calm facade.


    When the Facehugger leaped onto her face, Raven, experiencing this for the first time, finally couldn''t hold back her reaction. She instinctively raised her hand to swat the creature away.


    Thud!


    Duncan punched Raven in the stomach, and that single blow was enough to let the Facehugger latch onto her face and complete the implantation.


    After a while, when Raven woke up, the first thing she did was check her body.


    "So, it seems I''ve become your slave, just like that little woman over there."


    Raven moved gracefully, attempting to approach Duncan, but before she could take a step, Duncan interrupted her: "If you''re thinking of leaving me, finding a place to perform open-chest surgery to remove the Xenomorph, give up. I won''t give you the chance."


    Raven''s face stiffened, her smile slowly fading as a fierce glint appeared in her eyes.


    But there was nothing she could do. Every move she wanted to make had been blocked by Duncan.


    "I need to improve my strength quickly... Not just my own personal power, but I also need to build a sufficiently large army in a short time."


    Duncan pondered. To rapidly expand the Xenomorph numbers, there were two main factors: first, the Queen''s egg-laying speed, which was currently about five to ten eggs per day, though the rate was increasing over time. Duncan guessed this was because the Queen had evolved from an ordinary Xenomorph and was inherently limited in terms of reproduction.


    Second, a stable and reliable source of hosts.


    Parasitizing ordinary animals was out of the question, as the resulting Runner Xenomorphs were too weak.


    Parasitizing a large number of humans? Duncan himself was human, and doing such a thing at this time would provoke hostility from the entire world.


    Parasitizing only death row inmates wasn''t particularly meaningful either. So, the truly cost-effective option was to target those whose locations and population distributions Duncan had already mapped out...

 Chapter 26: Duncan Proves Furys Keen Insight

    The vampires were in deep trouble.


    Logically speaking, major organizations around the world had, to varying degrees, participated in operations to exterminate vampires. As a result, vampires were well aware of their place in the food chain and generally didn''t act too brazenly.


    Perhaps it was Frost, who had wanted to become the "Blood God" but was killed by Blade, who had made things too high-profile, drawing renewed attention to vampires from all sides.


    The vampires racked their brains trying to figure out why, of all the organizations in the world, the damn Duncan had set his sights on them.


    Nighttime in New York was a place where prosperity and crime were inextricably intertwined.


    In some quiet alleyways, eerie shadows flitted by silently and swiftly.


    Occasionally, a drunkard, stumbling around looking for a place to relieve himself, would rub his eyes, thinking he had seen something wrong.


    Ordinary people were ignored, but the vampires had nowhere to run.


    Bang!


    The door was violently torn open, and a group of Xenomorphs stormed in, launching a brutal cleansing of one vampire stronghold after another.


    "Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"


    "It''s not the Daywalker? What the hell are these things?!"


    "Xenomorphs! These damn things are Xenomorphs! Run!"


    "Run my ass! Do you know how much these things are worth on the black market? The price has skyrocketed to tens of millions of dollars!"


    "Get them! Just catch one, and we can retire!"


    Chaos erupted. Most of the vampires turned and fled, while a few stared intently at the Xenomorphs, pulling out weapons with a fanatical gleam in their eyes, eager to capture one.


    Bang! Bang! Bang!


    Rat-tat-tat!


    "Idiots, hold your fire! What if you kill it? Dead bodies aren''t worth anything!"


    "Hmph, these Xenomorphs are strange. They''re not killing the fleeing idiots, just cutting off their limbs..."


    Some vampires, confident in their physical strength, sneered and discarded their firearms, attempting to take on the Xenomorphs bare-handed.


    The existence of Xenomorphs had already spread worldwide. Any organization with some level of influence knew about them. Moreover, the Xenomorphs that had appeared weren''t the monstrous Abomination Xenomorph, which only fueled their madness.


    However, no matter how grand their ambitions, they needed the strength to back them up.


    In the face of the mechanical, ruthless Xenomorph squad, the complex building environment quickly turned into a bloody slaughterhouse.


    The Xenomorphs moved like terrifying ghosts, appearing and disappearing in any area, their coordination seamless. From the start, without any communication, they executed tactical maneuvers as if they had been calculated by a computer countless times.


    Admittedly, Xenomorphs weren''t invulnerable. Firearms could inflict some damage on ordinary Xenomorphs, but such losses were acceptable.


    Don''t forget, the vampires were using 21st-century Earth firearms, not the advanced weapons from decades in the future seen in movies or comics.


    One vampire, carrying a rocket launcher, was about to fire at a Xenomorph wreaking havoc in the crowd.


    But in the next second, his hands were severed by a blade.


    "You''re making this difficult for me. If too many vampires die, I won''t be able to deliver."


    Elektra landed lightly on the ground, and not a single Xenomorph attacked her.


    Immediately, some vampires turned their guns on her and opened fire.


    Clang! Clang! Clang!


    With just one knife, Elektra deflected all the bullets with precise strikes, showcasing her superhuman abilities.


    "Damn it, who is this woman? Why aren''t the Xenomorphs attacking her?!"


    In the chaotic scene, the vampires howled, cursed, and begged for mercy, falling like wheat under a scythe. These blood-sucking creatures now had their own red blood gushing out like waterfalls, painting a macabre masterpiece across the area.


    Elektra showed no mercy. She had no fondness for these vampires and led the Xenomorphs in a relentless harvest.


    What was even more astonishing was that most of the vampires attacked by the Xenomorphs didn''t die.


    The Xenomorphs severed their tongues and transported them like cargo. Some used their tails to skewer several vampires like kebabs, while others simply grabbed a few by the collars and hauled them away.


    In New York City, a trail of bright red blood stretched out.


    Pairs of eyes watched this scene unfold, silently observing.


    "Another stronghold destroyed. I went to take a look¡ªnothing but severed limbs, with a few unlucky corpses left behind. Tsk tsk."


    "Who''s that girl? She''s ridiculously strong. A mutant? A mutant who''s joined Duncan?"


    "Hmm, it seems Xenomorphs can only parasitize living hosts? That''s crucial intel. Next, we need to figure out how the Xenomorph embryo grows inside the host, whether it can be surgically removed, and if a superhuman with regenerative abilities can survive after the chestburster emerges..."


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    As long as they were normal humans, they had no fondness for vampires. These creatures were nothing but parasites on humanity.


    Now, seeing the vampires face an even more terrifying group and the prospect of being parasitized, those who witnessed this scene felt a strange sense of absurdity.


    After all, vampires were expendable. How many died didn''t matter. But had Duncan''s methods become so brutally direct? Was he no longer even bothering to pretend?


    "I remember that idiot Blonsky was parasitized, right? And then he died? He had Hulk-like strength, so he must have had powerful regenerative abilities, yet he died."


    "Blonsky might have been killed in the end. That doesn''t prove superhuman regeneration is ineffective."


    In a world where superhumans weren''t rare, there were naturally many smart people who logically deduced the characteristics of the Xenomorphs.


    These creatures, capable of parasitizing hosts to gain their powers and seemingly becoming stronger than their hosts, were utterly fascinating. For some ambitious individuals, the impact was unprecedented.


    Who could have imagined such a creature? Now they existed.


    So, what was the upper limit of this mysterious creature''s abilities?


    And... where did they originate? Were they really created by that guy Duncan?


    S.H.I.E.L.D. Headquarters


    Fury faced five screens, each displaying one of the most powerful people in the world.


    "Nick Fury, you''ve done well."


    The five praised Director Fury.


    One of them said, "The invoice for 200 million US dollars that you submitted earlier made me think you were playing a low-level joke. Are you really going to spend 200 million to deal with an ordinary young man and the toys around him? We even suspected that you were trying to take advantage of the situation to defraud funds."


    Another chimed in, "But facts have proven, Fury, you''re still the world''s best agent with the sharpest instincts! That man is worth every penny!"


    "So, Fury, when will you bring him into S.H.I.E.L.D.? After he''s wiped out all the vampires in the world?"


    "Wiping them out isn''t realistic, but we want to know¡ªwhat''s the reproduction rate of the Xenomorphs? How do they reproduce? What''s their social structure? Is there a queen-like role dedicated to breeding? Can we control them like Duncan does?"


    Fury: "..."


    Motherfucker!


    How could he have predicted that, in such a short time, Duncan''s "simple" actions would cause a global stir?


    He certainly hadn''t expected Xenomorphs to have such terrifying racial abilities and growth potential, nor such an unprecedented, insane method of expansion...


    At this moment, Fury fully demonstrated the professionalism of a top spy. He remained expressionless, calm and composed, as if he had anticipated this outcome all along. He said gravely, "It''s nothing. This is just my duty. However, to take the next step in dealing with him, I''ll need more funding."


    After the meeting...


    "Dum Dum, report the latest situation."


    Fury gathered his team and issued orders.


    "I successfully infiltrated Kamar-Taj..."


    "Not that," Fury interrupted the Dum Dum in front of him. "Besides, it was one of your lucky clones that joined Kamar-Taj. Their success isn''t your success. Moreover, I highly suspect your so-called ''infiltration'' was orchestrated by the Sorcerer Supreme herself."


    Dum Dum shook his head repeatedly. "At least it shows my talent has been recognized by the Sorcerer Supreme, right?"


    "Are you sure? Why is it that after years of effort, you couldn''t even find the door to Kamar-Taj, but now you''re succeeding at everything without fail? Don''t you think she knows your identity? If not, I''d have to question her competence. Or is it that she, a ruthless figure who''s guarded Earth for centuries, is about to die and has decided to take in disciples out of the goodness of her heart?"


    "Maybe I''ve awakened a magic-learning gene¡ªlike magic affinity or something."


    "You should go wash your brain with Himalayan ice water. While we haven''t fully deciphered the mysteries of magic, it''s likely there''s no such thing as ''affinity.'' You don''t need to absorb wind or earth elements from the air into your body."


    "Boss, not having cracked it yet only means one thing¡ªnot enough funding! You could allocate a more generous budget to me, and I''ll take on this monumental task. With enough money, I could even take this question straight to the Sorcerer Supreme herself."


    Fury coldly stared at the Dum Dum in front of him. He was certain this clone, ignorant of sensitive information, wasn''t the Level 10 original. This meant the original Dum Dum had skipped work again.


    Had the original joined Kamar-Taj to study magic under the Ancient One? If so, Fury wouldn''t feel proud or delighted at his subordinate''s capabilities. He''d just think Dum Dum had lost his mind and should be eliminated at the first opportunity.


    A Level 10 S.H.I.E.L.D. agent, tasked with global responsibilities, joining Kamar-Taj to learn magic? In Fury''s eyes, that was idiotic.


    Kamar-Taj''s strength lay in the Ancient One and her few disciples, in their powerful magic and artifacts, in their vast mystical knowledge and global magical network¡ªnot in their cheap magic apprentices!


    Over the years, how many magicians had left Kamar-Taj after learning some magic and returned to human society? And how many of them had mastered teachable, inheritable magic? Or wielded artifacts while roaming the streets?


    S.H.I.E.L.D. wasn''t short on magicians!


    If they really wanted to recruit, they could easily gather a group from around the world¡ªthough some would undoubtedly be black magicians with hidden agendas.


    Oh, if Fury needed a reason to nod, it would be if Dum Dum were a once-in-a-century magical prodigy, worthy of the Sorcerer Supreme personally taking him under her wing.


    For Fury to believe that, he''d sooner believe Duncan would announce tomorrow that he''d developed a miracle cure for mutants¡ªjust like the reason Duncan gave when applying for government subsidies while establishing Weyland Corp.


    Dum Dum, as always, was only good at asking for money, swallowing up who knows how much funding every year. It was enough to make Fury''s hair fall out.


    A third of the $200 million funding he''d secured from the five major powers had been eaten up by Dum Dum!


    "Dum Dum, my patience has limits. The next time I ask, you''d better give me something truly valuable¡ªwhat have you achieved after all these years of spending endless money?"


    "Understood, boss. I''ll hold a brain cloud meeting with my other clones."


    Dum Dum''s expression turned serious. He paused, then said, "As for Duncan, I''ve made some discoveries. I''ve roughly calculated the Xenomorphs'' egg-laying efficiency. The daily increase is definitely no more than five! He''s captured a lot of vampires, but not all are for parasitism. Some are kept as food reserves..."


    Everyone present remained unfazed. They''d seen all sorts of madness¡ªcults worshipping cosmic entities or demons, conducting sacrifices¡ªDuncan''s actions were small potatoes in comparison. Besides, vampires weren''t even human. If vampires could hunt humans, why couldn''t humans hunt them?


    "Duncan''s current total forces shouldn''t exceed twenty Xenomorphs," Dum Dum said.


    Fury glanced at him. "If he let you calculate that, it means your calculations fall within his expectations. I don''t believe Duncan would be so transparent about his strength."


    "Perhaps the Xenomorphs have a higher reproduction rate. So far, we haven''t found any Xenomorph larvae or eggs. We''re not sure how long their growth period can last. Duncan''s actions are very cautious. He''s never sent Xenomorphs out with eggs, preferring to go through the trouble of crippling vampires and capturing them."


    In other words, Duncan might have a batch of intentionally unhatched eggs or Facehuggers, possibly to be used at a critical moment?


    "Find some vampires likely to be targeted by Duncan and implant listening devices in them," Fury ordered. "We need to be ready to move at any moment. We can''t allow him to grow unchecked like this."


    A dozen Xenomorphs, aside from the Abomination Xenomorph, weren''t too difficult to deal with. Heavy firepower could handle them.


    But if their numbers increased, it would be a disaster. S.H.I.E.L.D. couldn''t tolerate such an uncontrollable force¡ªor rather, species¡ªoperating outside their control.


    This wasn''t about Fury''s personal character or lust for power. It was S.H.I.E.L.D.''s duty, plain and simple.


    Not thinking and acting this way would mean they lacked even the most basic professional competence.


    "We''ve got trouble," Dum Dum''s expression suddenly changed, and he tapped his head.


    "I already know. A T0-level threat has arrived in New York''s suburbs, carrying several metal boxes across the sea," Fury''s face turned grim.

 Chapter 27: Calling for Backup, Huh?

    Duncan wasn''t a fan of keeping a low profile, but when he saw Magneto effortlessly floating a pile of iron cages through the air, completely disregarding everything around him, flying all the way from Alaska to confront him, he couldn''t help but feel how utterly surreal the scene was.


    "Aren''t you being a bit too flashy for a first meeting? Plenty of people would love to take you down," Duncan remarked.


    "I actually hope humans launch a nuclear strike at me. That way, I can seize the opportunity to teach them a lesson they''ll never forget."


    Magneto floated high in the air, over ten meters above the ground, casually dropping the cages to the ground with a series of loud crashes.


    It was clear he truly didn''t care, speaking with an air of complete composure.


    "With all due respect, Mr. Erik, are you... giving up? Completely disregarding humanity now?" Duncan''s face broke into a warm smile, as if he were having a friendly chat with an old friend. If it weren''t for the swarm of aliens emerging behind him, his performance would have been flawless.


    Magneto remained expressionless. With a wave of his hand, he extracted metal elements from the soil, forming a massive metal ball that he hurled at Duncan.


    His attack was sudden, but Duncan, a master of surprise attacks himself, had anticipated this move.


    Almost the instant the metal ball formed, the Abomination Alien was already in motion, swinging its fist and smashing the ball into countless fragments.


    "Is this your way of saying hello?" Duncan said slowly.


    "My way of saying hello to you," Magneto replied, flicking his fingers to create even more metal, which surged toward Duncan from all directions.


    Duncan remained calm, standing his ground as the aliens around him sprang into action at his command.


    From stillness to coordinated movement, it was as if a precise war machine had been activated.


    Each alien was insignificant on its own, but together, the dozens of aliens worked in perfect harmony, precisely countering every incoming attack.


    They even allocated defenses based on the size and strength of the attacks, each alien taking on the threats it was best suited to handle.


    Clang! Clang! Clang!


    A meticulous, layered defense formation took shape in an instant, demonstrating remarkable efficiency.


    Every second, countless attacks were deflected, corroded, or blocked with their bodies.


    This display even made Magneto pause. He stopped his assault, watching the aliens with interest. "When you''ve seen the view from higher up, it''s natural to find ordinary humans boring¡ªlike you. With these little creatures at your command, do you still consider yourself an ordinary human?"


    Magneto was comparing the aliens to the Deviants, concluding that, no matter how he looked at it, the aliens were stronger.


    A single alien was as fragile as an ant before him, and a group of them would only take a bit more time to handle.


    But with a larger number of super-powered aliens, like the cold, ruthless Abomination Alien, even Magneto had to take them seriously.


    Duncan wasn''t yet a force Magneto needed to fully acknowledge, but after this skirmish, Magneto could see Duncan''s immense potential.


    "At least I still consider myself human, not an alien."


    "For now. Don''t think I don''t know¡ªyou have an alien inside your chest. I can sense its life force," Magneto said with a cold smile. "If I hadn''t confirmed that, I might have killed you the moment I saw you, instead of playing this little game with you."


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    "That''s quite a difficult statement to respond to. I even hid Raven as a precaution against this very situation," Duncan sighed.


    "Are you trying to use Raven to threaten me?"


    "No, not a threat. I know that if I used her to threaten you, you''d eventually abandon her. But what if we continue our transaction? I can provide you with information in exchange for the Deviants you''ve captured."


    Duncan pointed to the tightly sealed iron cages, inside which the Deviants were trying to tear through the impossibly thick metal.


    The Abomination Alien silently raised its head, its eyeless, grotesque face turning toward Magneto like an emotionless iceberg.


    "Besides, I believe your old friend is watching everything here. Look, I can already sense his psychic presence on my aliens¡ªhe''s observing us," Duncan said, pointing to Elektra behind him.


    This was the reason Elektra was here.


    "Charles, get lost," Magneto said coldly.


    "Erik, I just want to remind you not to make a move here, and there''s no need to attack this boy. He''s not our enemy."


    "Of course I won''t attack him, because he''s no longer purely human. In pursuit of power, he abandoned his humanity¡ªI admire that," Magneto said.


    He wanted to create a world without humans, so any ideology or action that distanced itself from "humanity" earned his approval, especially from someone as exceptionally talented as Duncan.


    Duncan''s expression remained unchanged. In truth, if he wanted to, he could remove the alien from his body at any time, but he saw no need to make that explicit.


    He was far more interested in the Deviants¡ªextremely interested.


    This particular group of Deviants had the ability to absorb the life force and genes of their targets, gaining the supernatural abilities of those they consumed.


    Even ordinary Deviants possessed this ability.


    "You two chat. I''ll take my belongings now."


    With a thought from Duncan, nearly twenty aliens swiftly moved to surround one of the cages.


    Under Magneto''s intrigued gaze, one of the aliens tore open its own body, splashing acid that instantly corroded the layers of metal.


    "Such acidity... only vibranium or adamantium could withstand it," Magneto said, visibly surprised.


    This was extraordinary. The existence of such a creature was unnatural.


    A Deviant tried to seize the opportunity to escape, but in an instant, it was swarmed by a group of aliens, pinned to the ground. It let out a sharp screech, fighting back against the aliens but was completely overwhelmed.


    The aliens launched a relentless assault, and no matter how much the Deviant struggled, it was futile. It was repeatedly knocked down, its body covered in wounds.


    "I ran genetic tests on them. I have to admit, their genes are strikingly similar to the X-gene," Magneto said coldly.


    "So, this discovery has left you quite frustrated," Duncan nodded understandingly. "Anyone would be surprised by this result, but don''t worry. These Deviants are not the same as mutants."


    "That''s what I wanted to ask you. Why do mutants still exist, while the Deviants, the origin of mutants, have disappeared?"


    "You''re quite cunning. That''s really two questions¡ªbecause the Deviants failed the Creator''s judgment and were wiped from the Earth by the Creator''s hand. Only a portion of humans who inherited the Deviants'' genes survived."


    Duncan focused on capturing the Deviants, eagerly dragging them underground to begin the parasitic process.


    It wouldn''t be long before he had a new batch of truly powerful soldiers, each with incredible growth potential.


    Neither Magneto, nor Professor X, nor S.H.I.E.L.D., nor any other faction observing this realized just how terrifying the Deviants'' potential for growth was.


    "Ten Deviants for this question, which involves ancient gods. It''s a bargain, right? You''re not going to renege, are you?"


    "Of course not. I never break my promises. But your price is steep, as Deviants are becoming increasingly rare. We''re killing them, and so are the Eternals."


    As Magneto spoke, his mind was already racing with thoughts about the gods.


    A deity, in ancient times, created the Eternals and the Deviants? How terrifying must such a god be? It was almost unimaginable.


    After all, the top-tier mutants today possessed the power to single-handedly threaten the entire world, yet Magneto still wouldn''t dare claim that such individuals were stronger than the Deviants who once dominated the Earth.


    But the Deviantswere wiped out.


    Magneto decided he would delve deeper into various myths and legends upon his return, searching for traces of these so-called gods.


    "You''d better not be deceiving me or playing word games. I''ll verify the truth," Magneto said as he ascended into the sky, leaving without a backward glance.


    "Professor X, your old friend has left. Shouldn''t you do the same? Honestly, I''m honored that you chose not to invade my mind," Duncan turned and addressed Elektra.


    Given Professor X''s moral compass, he typically refrained from probing others'' memories without consent.


    "Erik didn''t attack you for another reason¡ªhe suspects you might also be a mutant, perhaps one who has awakened the ability to create and control genetic organisms," Professor X''s voice echoed through Elektra.


    "Similar to Mr. Sinister? That''s an interesting thought. I''ve never undergone an X-gene test," Duncan replied casually.


    While Duncan was busy strengthening his forces, the ripple effects of his actions were already taking shape.


    The vampires, alarmed by Magneto''s visit to Duncan, could no longer stand idly by. They decided to take the initiative and wage war against Duncan, seeking a powerful force to eliminate him.


    "Master Kaecilius, this is the situation. We need your help¡ªyou, the esteemed chief disciple of the Ancient One¡ªto help us kill him!"

 Chapter 28: Mages Forced to Brawl to Reduce Their Debt

    "You want me to kill someone who controls strange creatures? The price for my services is high."


    Kaecilius, with a few of his followers in tow, looked down on the vampires before him with disdain.


    And indeed, his disdain was evident. His dark eye circles, known to some as the price of using black magic, might be mistaken by others as a sign that these dark mages were workaholics who hadn''t slept for days.


    In fact, Kaecilius hadn''t slept in a very, very long time. "Sleeplessness" was just one of the trivial costs of using magic.


    Beyond that, he had to offer his mind, body, and lifespan to the various deities who granted him magic. This was the price of using magic¡ªborrowing power meant repaying the debt.


    Under such a gaze, some of the weaker vampires instinctively averted their eyes, while a few of the more noble-born ones tried to meet his stare.


    "We truly don''t know where we went wrong with him, but he''s already destroyed seven of our bases in just two days! Hundreds of us have died or gone missing!" said a vampire elder dressed in finery.


    "Be confident¡ªmissing means dead. The luckier ones become that human''s food, while the unlucky ones become hosts for those aliens."


    Kaecilius was a man of principle. Though he looked down on vampires, since he had chosen to take this job, he had done some research on Duncan.


    "I''ll send one dark mage to kill him," Kaecilius declared.


    "Just one? We were hoping you would take care of it personally," the vampires present frowned.


    "Fools! My main target is Kamar-Taj. I won''t waste my strength on a minor character!" Kaecilius shook his head, his elegant ponytail swaying, drawing everyone''s attention.


    At least, the vampires couldn''t help but glance at it.


    "But he''s not a minor character..."


    "In my eyes, he is. You bats from the sewers have never witnessed true greatness. Even my mentor¡ªthe Ancient One¡ªneeds to borrow power from that being!"


    Kaecilius sneered at the vampires. "Even you were born because of that being. Without black magic, where would you vampires come from?"


    The vampires looked confused.


    But Kaecilius, having learned from Dormammu, knew the truth: vampires originated from black magic.


    And since Dormammu was the deity who wielded black magic, Kaecilius naturally believed that vampires were just inferior byproducts of Dormammu''s creation, unworthy of attention.


    Another elder, deeply dissatisfied, muttered, "We shouldn''t have sought out these dark mages! Paying to deal with Duncan feels unreliable. We should have gone to Baron Blood instead..."


    But he was quickly silenced. "Enough! Our clan has its own ways!"


    Crash!


    At that moment, the sound of shattering glass echoed as Blade burst in, followed by a swarm of aliens.


    "Looks like we had the same idea, targeting this place. But it seems the vampire you''re looking for isn''t here."


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    Duncan''s voice rang out.


    Blade drew his twin swords. "My goal is different from yours. I leave no survivors. Even if they''re human, as long as they side with the vampires, they die."


    As Blade spoke, his red eyes behind his sunglasses fixed on Kaecilius.


    Kaecilius curled his lips in a mocking smile, then shifted his gaze to Duncan, who was surrounded by several robust aliens.


    "Those dark circles... a dark mage? I didn''t expect an extra bonus. But the fact that vampires have teamed up with you has really lowered your standards," Duncan remarked.


    Dark mages were easy to spot. They were the only ones on Earth who followed Dormammu and bore such appearances.


    "Hmph, I feel the same. It seems we at least agree on one thing: vampires are the best material to be used and discarded."


    Kaecilius grinned maliciously as he unleashed black magic. Dark mist spread, enveloping everyone in the room. The vampires who came into contact with it were instantly consumed.


    After a series of screams, their bodies disintegrated into black particles, flowing like water into an unknown realm before vanishing completely.


    Kaecilius''s expression improved slightly.


    "Kaecilius!! What are you doing? We''re allies!" a vampire elder shouted.


    "Allies? You defective products think you can be my allies? Did you really think I was after your money? You''re only fit to be offerings to please the great Dormammu!"


    While the vampires wanted to kill Duncan, Kaecilius had a different plan¡ªhe wanted to kill them all.


    Every person on Earth would belong to the great Dormammu.


    "This guy''s not right in the head. Attack," Duncan ordered.


    Blade, without a word, charged at Kaecilius with his swords.


    Duncan, however, knew how tricky the spatial magic of the Kamar-Taj lineage could be. Those golden portals weren''t just for transportation¡ªthey could also be used to "sever" by closing them abruptly.


    So, Duncan focused on the other dark mages present from the start.


    Whoosh!


    A peculiar-looking alien, with fleshy tendrils on its body, quietly approached one of the mages, but the mage was prepared.


    "Lowly creature, let me show you the power of a professional mage!"


    The dark mage sneered, pulling a rod from his sleeve and charging at the alien with agile steps.


    "My weapon is made of vibranium! It can withstand your acid blood!"


    Good, a rare dark mage who hadn''t completely lost his mind to Dormammu. He knew to use vibranium to counter the aliens'' most troublesome trait¡ªtheir acidic blood.


    But it seemed his brain wasn''t entirely intact.


    Duncan''s expression shifted slightly. Though he had expected the combat style of these mages, seeing it in person was still hard to take.


    Their defenses weren''t much stronger than an ordinary human''s, yet they loved to charge into melee combat with weapons like knives and rods, even against aliens, which were born for close-quarters combat.


    This brought to mind Doctor Strange, who, whenever he fought, would unleash a barrage of powerful spells without hesitation. Things like the Crimson Bands of Cyttorak, the Sacred Sword of the Vishanti, and the Shield of the Seraphim.


    Just look at that lineup of spells¡ªCyttorak, the Vishanti, the Seraphim¡ªall deities of multiversal stature. Every spell Doctor Strange cast was borrowed from such beings.


    It''s worth noting that Hoggoth is one of the Vishanti, the trinity of deities.


    "Somehow, the local mages are a bit different from what I imagined. Are they worried about owing too much debt? Your master isn''t very generous, is he?"


    When magic isn''t enough, fists will do.


    After some thought, Duncan concluded that these guys were just too poor¡ªor perhaps Dormammu had grown stingy¡ªsince they couldn''t even use magic freely. Moreover, the cost of using black magic was far higher than that of white magic.


    They were nothing compared to Doctor Strange, who had the backing of Kamar-Taj. No wonder they ended up being crushed by him.


    "Hmph, do you even understand magic?" Kaecilius raised his hand, conjuring the Rings of Raggadorr. A golden disc appeared in his palm, effortlessly slicing a drone alien in half.


    Facing the splatter of acidic blood, Kaecilius raised his other hand, summoning a small portal to block the blood and send it away.


    "If I wanted to, I could drop you all into the ocean in an instant," Kaecilius said confidently.


    He thought Duncan was coming for him, but Duncan knew how difficult it would be to kill someone as skilled at escaping as Kaecilius. From the start, Duncan had his eyes on the other dark mages.


    Amid the chaos, a melee-obsessed mage was already pinned down by an alien, screaming as he was dragged before Duncan.


    With practiced ease, Duncan picked up an alien egg from the back of one of his aliens and performed a facehugger implantation on the dark mage.


    Duncan wanted to test something crucial, and he was deeply excited about it.


    Sure enough, the moment the implantation succeeded, a powerful surge of magical energy emanated from the dark mage''s body, and black substances began to spread slowly.

 Chapter 29: Dormammu: Theres Something Dirty Here!

    Originally, Duncan had personally taken action just to test how far the Xenomorph, born from parasitizing the Deviants, could go.


    At least for now, there were no issues with mobilizing bodily energy.


    "Normal Xenomorph can heal from superficial wounds within seconds, while normal Deviants can mobilize their body''s energy to quickly repair injuries."


    Duncan observed the Deviant Xenomorph that had been split in two by Kaecilius. Visible energy glowed at the wound, pulling the two halves of its body back together.


    Under normal circumstances, as long as its internal energy wasn''t exhausted, given some time, it could slowly heal itself. This gave it a much stronger regenerative ability compared to ordinary Deviants.


    "Bodily energy, or rather life force, can be taken. This is a power derived from genes, so I''m not surprised. But what about magic?"


    Duncan turned his attention to the dark mage who had been facehugged and was now surrounded by Xenomorphs.


    Magic in the Marvel universe is borrowed, and while Xenomorphs can seize the superior genes of their hosts, effectively nullifying the host''s regenerative abilities and achieving a form of transcendence and replacement, could these Xenomorphs replace the host and take on the host''s magical debts?


    Duncan was very interested in this.


    "Although I don''t necessarily plan to pursue the path of learning magic, having more options is always a good choice," Duncan mused, stroking his chin.


    "Parasitism... are you trying to walk the same path as me? No need to go through all that trouble. With your abilities, you could simply join us," Kaecilius said, immediately understanding Duncan''s intentions. Instead of getting angry, he seemed somewhat enthusiastic.


    For a cold-blooded idealist, having someone occasionally agree with his ideology could bring a small measure of comfort.


    "It''s not the same. I know my joining would please Dormammu even more, but before that, let my little ones give it a try first," Duncan replied casually.


    At this point, Kaecilius was nothing more than an incurable fanatic. Talking about anything else was useless, but bring up Dormammu, and he was all ears.


    The two were at a standoff, ready to fight at any moment, but neither made the first move. Meanwhile, the Xenomorph and the other dark mages were locked in a fierce battle.


    In this world, only the vampires were suffering. These poor creatures fought desperately, but neither black magic, nor the Xenomorphs, nor Blade were foes they could withstand.


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    Even the new type of vampire¡ªthe Reapers¡ªcreatures painstakingly developed by the vampires as biological weapons, capable of feeding on both humans and vampires, stood no chance.


    Unfortunately, against enemies with both quality and quantity, there was no escape. They were eventually chopped to pieces by Blade.


    "These things are really hard to kill. Looks like I have a new target," Blade said, poking the Reaper''s mouth with the tip of his blade. "Its mouth looks a bit like your spider."


    "Let me correct you. What you call a ''spider'' is scientifically known as a facehugger. Also, comparing my facehuggers to the knockoffs created from Reapers, which are already knockoffs themselves, is quite insulting."


    As Duncan spoke, he took a moment to glance at the Reaper''s corpse, which was immune to silver and garlic but vulnerable to sunlight.


    Blade, who didn''t need to fight so hard and could have easily killed the creature with the help of the Xenomorphs, had rushed in eagerly, likely to prevent Duncan from capturing the Reaper alive for parasitization.


    "Terrible behavior. What a waste," Duncan commented bluntly.


    Blade pretended not to hear, ignoring the surrounding Xenomorphs and focusing on the ever-composed Kaecilius. "Now it''s just you, mage. Let me remind you, your people''s combat skills are atrocious. Neither strong nor skilled."


    "Of course, we can''t compare to you, vampire," Kaecilius replied. "You''re just little toys created by my master using black magic, while we are pilgrims following our master in search of truth."


    Kaecilius admitted that it was unrealistic for dark mages to compete with a naturally gifted vampire like Blade in close combat.


    But that didn''t stop him from looking down on Blade.


    "I hate it when people call me a vampire. I''ll carve my name into your corpse. Oh, what was your name again?" Blade twirled his blades and charged forward.


    "Go cool off in Antarctica."


    Kaecilius raised his hand and conjured a moving portal, instantly swallowing Blade and making him disappear.


    "I wanted to warn him, but he''s not the type to take advice. When his mind is preoccupied with guarding against me, he might not realize that my delay in attacking you has a reason," Duncan said.


    This was the downside of dealing with agents. Their minds were always occupied with thoughts unrelated to the battle, which could affect their judgment at critical moments.


    "Perhaps he knew but had no choice but to act before you," Kaecilius said with a strange smile.


    This globally renowned sorcerer clearly had a favorable impression of Duncan.


    Duncan looked around. Besides Kaecilius, only the facehugged dark mage and one other dark mage remained alive.


    "Kaecilius, save me!!" The dark mage, pinned down by a Deviant Xenomorph, looked pleadingly at the only person who could save him.


    "Returning to Dormammu earlier isn''t a bad thing. On the path to eternal life and truth, you''re one step ahead of me," Kaecilius said, unmoved.


    The dark mage was utterly despairing, watching as the Deviant Xenomorph''s tendrils pierced his neck.


    A series of ripples appeared as the dark mage''s body rapidly shrank, eventually being completely absorbed by the Deviant Xenomorph.


    "...The improvement isn''t significant. Magic, being an energy with an owner, is truly different from other energies," Duncan said, not holding out much hope.


    He waited to see the changes in the facehugged dark mage.


    When the Xenomorph finally burst out of the chest, the strange magical fluctuations reached their peak before quickly fading.


    "Failed? Did Dormammu or Chthon see through it?" Duncan pondered, stroking his chin.


    These two beings, one at a universal level and the other at a multiversal level, would indeed be capable of seeing through the Xenomorph''s substitution tactic. Duncan wasn''t surprised.


    As Duncan had anticipated, Dormammu noticed something was wrong immediately.


    "Something is stealing my power and refusing to pay the price... another one learning from the Ancient One!!"

 Chapter 30: The Art of War

    In the vast Dark Dimension, countless lifeless planets floated in the void.


    Over billions of years, who knows how many living planets had been devoured by Dormammu, eventually turning into dead stars, mere decorations in the Dark Dimension.


    The invincible and majestic Dormammu angrily turned over, furious.


    In this vast universe, there were indeed a few troublesome deities or planets, but none of them irritated Dormammu as much as Earth.


    Just moments ago, Dormammu sensed that on this tiny planet, another individual was attempting to steal black magic.


    Although the amount was minuscule, roughly equivalent to what Dormammu had granted to Kaecilius''s followers, this was no excuse for these Earthlings to openly defy him!!


    One Ancient One was bad enough, but at least the Ancient One was powerful!


    "Let me see who did this..."


    Dormammu opened His terrifying, planet-sized eyes. In His vision, endless magical particles surged like rivers, at His command. His gaze, through black magic, extended to a dark mage on Earth.


    And He saw the creature stealing His power... a Deviant?


    No, not a Deviant, though it bore some resemblance.


    Dormammu almost thought it was a new breed of Deviant created by the Celestials. If that were the case, he would have to tread carefully, as the Celestials were a terrifying collective of deities, starting at the Skyfather level, far too powerful to provoke.


    "Hmm? This little thing is quite interesting. It''s using genetic substitution to inherit power?" Dormammu took a closer look, immediately intrigued.


    Even as an ancient deity, this was the first time he had encountered such a peculiar species.


    He had seen many lifeforms that grew stronger by consuming their enemies, such as certain Deviants and the infamous Annihilation Wave in the cosmos.


    But a lifeform that could steal power through parasitism? This was a first.


    "This thing is called a Xenomorph? It can even inherit the black magic I granted to Earth''s mages through this method..." Dormammu''s eyes lit up, brighter than stars.


    If he could decipher the essence of this lifeform and use it as a basis to create a vessel that could perfectly inherit his power, yet on a higher level, be unrecognizable to certain troublesome entities...


    Honestly, this had immense potential, far better than constantly raising his debt ceiling by granting black magic to Kaecilius and those third-rate mages.


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    If he had the chance to personally infiltrate Earth, Dormammu would be insane to continue relying on proxies to deal with the Ancient One!


    Every time Dormammu paid the price for using black magic, the suffering only grew.


    Soon, Dormammu first severed the Xenomorph''s ability to steal black magic, then used black magic to relay a crucial directive:


    Spare no cost, seize these creatures called Xenomorphs!


    Kaecilius quickly received Dormammu''s command, his eyes sharpening as he stared at Duncan, unable to hide his surprise.


    "It seems your master has given you new orders. At least, I don''t think you''re surprised by my Xenomorphs," Duncan said.


    "Correct. Your performance seems to have greatly pleased my master, far beyond expectations," Kaecilius admitted, his eyes scanning the Aliens, clearly considering how to quickly eliminate them.


    Duncan was also preparing. At this moment, the Abomination Alien stepped forward from behind Duncan.


    He might question Kaecilius''s ideals, but he would never doubt his strength. Kaecilius had once been the Ancient One''s chief disciple and now wielded both the Vishanti''s white magic and Dormammu''s black magic, making him exceptionally dangerous.


    Just the Mirror Dimension spell alone, if successfully cast by Kaecilius, would put Duncan in a very precarious position.


    "This risk was necessary; otherwise, I wouldn''t have been able to confirm certain things. But fighting you under these circumstances was unexpected... I won''t give you the chance to use the Mirror Dimension," Duncan said.


    He had confirmed that the chestburster had failed to harness black magic. Combined with Kaecilius''s reaction, it was clear Dormammu had intervened, denying the Xenomorph''s "access."


    This was normal and nothing to be disheartened about.


    "For some reason, I feel like you know a lot about me, about black magic, and even about my master Dormammu... Whatever the reason, you''ll soon be one of us."


    Kaecilius raised his hand toward Duncan. "Truth belongs to Dormammu. Offer the Xenomorphs, join our glorious ranks, and I''ll spare your life."


    Duncan didn''t hesitate, displaying extraordinary decisiveness as he launched his attack.


    The Mirror Dimension wasn''t invincible; its use had extremely stringent conditions. Duncan would never wait passively.


    In an instant, Duncan charged forward, and the Xenomorphs scattered around him also sprang into action.


    Normally, Duncan wouldn''t personally engage in combat, as it was unnecessary. He knew exactly where his strength lay. As long as he survived, even if only one Xenomorph remained hidden somewhere in the world, that lone Xenomorph could evolve into a Queen, ensuring the survival of the entire Xenomorph species, no matter how many others perished.


    But in this situation, facing such a dangerous enemy, Duncan took the lead.


    Whoosh!


    His speed was so fast that to the average eye, he left afterimages. His arms, though merely robust, seemed to activate every muscle fiber as he swung, unleashing overloaded power that caused his muscles to visibly swell.


    Kaecilius''s eyelids twitched, but he acted immediately.


    Thin, elongated red magical threads sprouted from his hands, forming a dense network that reached out toward the Xenomorphs charging from all directions.


    "This is Kamar-Taj''s magic. How ironic," Duva sneered, mentally informing all the Xenomorphs about this spell.


    The Xenomorphs, ensnared by these thin whips, began leaping and dodging along the walls. Some of them tore open their own bodies, using their acidic blood to corrode the energy whips, creating openings for the others.


    The Abomination Xenomorph, naturally, led the charge. Its formidable regenerative abilities and unmatched strength allowed it to violently crash through the network of golden-red energy whips, forcefully pulling them apart.


    Several Deviant Xenomorphs were also particularly active. With their superior Deviant genes, they possessed the innate ability to absorb energy. Tendrils extended from their bodies, latching onto the energy whips and forcibly draining them to sever the connections.


    The army Duncan had painstakingly built was now beginning to show its true potential.

 Chapter 31: The Mouth of Faltine

    When Xenomorphs, equipped with various combat methods such as physical attacks and energy assaults, unite in perfect coordination, the efficiency they display is nothing short of astonishing.


    With Duncan, who can mentally link to all Xenomorphs, monitor each one''s vision and status, and issue real-time commands, the Xenomorphs'' combat performance is akin to a masterpiece of art.


    Although weaker Xenomorphs continuously fall to the energy whips, bound and sliced into countless pieces by the power imbued within the whips.


    But in their final moments, they scream desperately, tearing their bodies apart with all their might to ensure their acidic blood splatters over a wider area, corroding more energy whips.


    Everywhere you look, whips are rapidly snapping, creating pockets of vacuum. Upon closer inspection, you''d be shocked to find these pockets connecting to form an irregular "pathway"!


    The entire process is seamless, executed with fearlessness, silence, and sacrifice, as if rehearsed countless times¡ªterrifyingly efficient!


    "How is this possible?!"


    Even Kaecilius was stunned. He wasn''t afraid of the Xenomorphs'' power but was shocked by their absolute obedience, cold-bloodedness, and mechanical precision despite being flesh and blood.


    "Nothing is impossible. You could become part of me too!"


    Duncan, with his agility, closed the distance between himself and Kaecilius.


    As long as he could prevent Kaecilius from using large-scale spatial magic like the Mirror Dimension, there was a chance! With his strength, the Abomination Xenomorph, and several Deviant Xenomorphs, victory wasn''t out of reach.


    In fact, with the power Duncan currently wielded, he was undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with, commanding the attention of organizations and factions worldwide.


    But his opponent was Kaecilius, who stood just below the Ancient One in terms of power.


    "Let me show you true terror, the power I''ve gained from the great Dormammu."


    Kaecilius felt the surging dark magic within him, a sign that Dormammu had temporarily increased his borrowing limit.


    While using energy whips to buy time, Kaecilius began casting a black magic spell from Dormammu.


    A magic akin to a black hole slowly took shape before him.


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    "Behold this spell, the Mouth of Faltine! The great Dormammu used this to devour countless pocket universes and life-bearing planets in the macrocosm!"


    "You won''t get the chance to use that spell!"


    Duncan relentlessly broke through the energy whips, advancing rapidly with his elite Xenomorphs, aiming to kill Kaecilius before he could complete the spell.


    Countless golden-red threads were born and destroyed, with many Xenomorphs falling to the whips'' burns and cuts. Even Duncan himself, battered and scarred, personally severed many whips, finally reaching Kaecilius.


    Just as the two were about to engage in true combat, Kaecilius sensed something, his expression changing abruptly. He retreated swiftly, opening a portal and escaping without hesitation.


    Duncan''s expression shifted, his lightning-fast reflexes kicking in. No matter the cost, he had to attack Kaecilius!


    Roar!


    The Abomination Xenomorph let out a cry, its body riddled with countless energy whips. It had been motionless, seemingly dead, but under Duncan''s command, it erupted in a frenzy, its body rapidly expanding. Taking advantage of Kaecilius''s momentary distraction, it slammed into Duncan from behind.


    Using this force, Duncan, despite his severe injuries, charged straight at Kaecilius.


    Though it was too late¡ªKaecilius had already stepped into the portal.


    He gave a relieved smile, beginning to turn, his lips forming words¡ªeven now, he maintained his elegance, exuding the dignity of a grand mage.


    Duncan knew exactly what he was about to say.


    "We''ll meet again."


    "Meet my ass, give it here!"


    Duncan''s eyes gleamed with ferocity. He extended both arms in a reckless, suicidal move. He could be bisected at any moment if the portal closed, but Duncan did it anyway.


    Snap!


    With incredible speed and strength, Duncan thrust his arms through the barrier of magical particles, instantly losing chunks of flesh. Every moment, parts of his body turned to dust and dissipated.


    Yet, Duncan showed no hesitation or retreat. With arms now reduced to bare bone, he violently grabbed Kaecilius''s shoulders as the portal rapidly closed. With one hand pressing and the other pulling, he tore off Kaecilius''s arm!


    The scene was gruesome¡ªblood, torn muscles, and tendons still connected¡ªutterly brutal.


    Kaecilius, no longer elegant, let out a scream!


    He cherished his body, as it was his vessel for pursuing truth and paying the price to Dormammu. He always kept it meticulously maintained, even styling his hair immaculately¡ªhe had never suffered physical harm to this extent before!!


    The portal closed completely, severing Duncan''s arms on the other side.


    "He shouldn''t have used the Mouth of Faltine. The casting time was too long, and against an opponent like you, who seizes opportunities and is willing to self-mutilate, he miscalculated."


    Behind Duncan, a golden portal opened, and a chubby figure rushed in. But it was too late. He witnessed the final clash between Kaecilius and Duncan, sighing helplessly.


    Everything had happened too fast. From Kaecilius opening the portal, retreating, to escaping, it all took less than a second. Opening a portal, stepping through, and deciding which spell to use for intervention was simply too much to ask.


    "You must be a mage from Kamar-Taj. If not for you, I doubt Kaecilius would have fled so quickly." Duncan''s expression shifted from ferocious to gentle in a second, his change of demeanor astonishing.


    If not for his horrifying, self-healing wounds and missing arms, Wong might have thought he was conversing with a gentleman.


    Wong carefully chose his words, glancing around. The ancient building was in ruins, littered with human corpses, dust from vampires slain by Blade''s silver weapons, and the shattered remains of Xenomorphs.


    The sight left him inwardly shaken. Despite the brief confrontation, the battle had been devastatingly brutal.

 Chapter 32: A Once-in-a-Century Magic Prodigy

    Wong estimated that even he, facing Kaecilius, couldn''t have done better than Duncan.


    "Don''t worry about these. As long as they''re still breathing, they''ll recover slowly," Duncan said calmly, walking over to Wong despite his tattered clothes.


    By the time he stood firmly in place, most of his injuries had already healed.


    "Your arms¡ª"


    "Will grow back too."


    Wong stared numbly as Duncan''s severed arms slowly began to regenerate. Though the process was slow, it was clear they would eventually restore completely. The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed.


    Being able to heal flesh wounds was one thing, but regrowing lost limbs? No wonder Duncan dared to use such aggressive tactics against Kaecilius.


    "Thankfully, Kaecilius used the Mouth of Faltine..." Wong muttered to himself. He suspected Kaecilius had been too greedy. If he had used a less powerful spell, the outcome might have been different.


    "I might not necessarily win, but I definitely wouldn''t die easily. My life is tough," Duncan said.


    "Wong. My name is Wong. Kaecilius isn''t the type to give up easily. He''s extraordinarily stubborn. I''m not sure what happened between you two... Wait."


    Wong''s gaze fell on the seemingly ordinary Xenomorph, which still faintly radiated traces of black magic.


    The intelligent mage began to piece things together, his expression shifting to one of shock and anger.


    "It''s nothing much. As you can see, this is my first time encountering magic, so I did some research. It seems the being behind Kaecilius noticed," Duncan said nonchalantly.


    "Enough! You''re insane to dabble in black magic! It''s the most dangerous and malevolent force in the world. No matter the circumstances, never touch it. I don''t want to see you among the ranks of dark mages in the future!"


    "Got it, got it. Someone else told me something similar. He''s currently being hunted by Magneto across the globe," Duncan replied.


    "Don''t bring worldly conflicts into the realm of magic¡ª"


    "Dormammu. I know about Dormammu, and I know he''s an interdimensional demon," Duncan answered. "I''m not some clueless fool when it comes to magic."


    Wong''s eyes grew more dangerous as he debated whether to deal with Duncan here and now. "Every talented mage who joins the dark mages starts off thinking the same way. And you''re not even a mage."


    "Your words remind me of an anti-drug PSA I once saw, Wong. You''re quite knowledgeable. Before joining Kamar-Taj, were you a librarian?" Duncan remained calm, methodically gathering his Xenomorph troops and assessing the losses.


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    He had brought twenty-two Xenomorphs, and eight had died. The losses were smaller than expected, considering his opponent was Kaecilius.


    "To be precise, I was a salesman," Wong said, his tone displeased.


    He wasn''t interested in figuring out how Duncan knew so much. After all, the existence of interdimensional demons wasn''t a secret to ancient beings and organizations.


    "Wong, give my regards to the Ancient One."


    With that, Duncan leaped onto the shoulder of the Abomination Xenomorph and, after a quick farewell, departed.


    Wong watched Duncan''s decisive actions, his brow furrowed.


    "Don''t joke around. Where does he get the confidence? The Ancient One doesn''t have time to deal with small fry like him..."


    But since this involved Kaecilius, Wong felt it was necessary to report to the Ancient One.


    Passing through a portal, Wong arrived at the Ancient One''s side.


    "Ancient One..." Before Wong could finish.


    Mordo interjected urgently, "The Ancient One is communicating with an external deity. Do not disturb her!"


    "It''s fine. I already know. Duncan''s words were quite interesting," the Ancient One said, her eyes closed, surrounded by an ocean of magical particles that filled Wong with deep reverence.


    Ordinary people could never fathom the limits of the Ancient One''s power.


    After a long while, the Ancient One finally opened her eyes, a flicker of black magic vanishing without a trace.


    Wong said, "I don''t know much about Duncan, nor do I understand where he gets the audacity to touch Dormammu''s power. He even wants to meet the Ancient One!"


    "What? Kamar-Taj doesn''t welcome such arrogant individuals. He''ll never set foot in the Sanctum in his lifetime!" Mordo''s face darkened, furious at Duncan''s delusions.


    "He won''t come unless I grant him access to white magic, allowing his Xenomorphs to also wield magic," the Ancient One said gently.


    "That''s impossible! How could we allow a group of animals¡ª"


    "Mordo, have you forgotten about Krugarr? He disappeared after leaving us," Wong pointed out sternly.


    Mordo couldn''t listen any further. Krugarr was clearly a sentient being resembling a humanoid fish, not an animal.


    Besides, Krugarr had long since left Earth, reportedly joining a group called the "Ravagers."


    "Those aren''t animals. They might be ''smarter'' than humans. Right now, they''re nothing special, but in the future, they could cause disruptions on a temporal level."


    The Ancient One quickly changed the subject. "There''s something more important now. Odin just contacted me. He''s decided to exile his son to Earth for a trial."


    "Thor? I''ve heard he''s extremely irritating and arrogant. Someone like him coming to Earth won''t settle down quietly. He''ll kill many people," Mordo said with deep disdain. He hated anything that was beyond control.


    "On the contrary, he will die on Earth," the Ancient One said softly.


    Both Mordo and Wong''s expressions changed dramatically, filled with shock.


    Thor would die on Earth? That was absurd! By Earth''s standards, Thor''s personality was extremely violent, but as the son of Odin, a Skyfather-level being, his strength was top-tier.


    How could someone like that die on Earth?


    "Time will provide the clearest answer. Originally, it wouldn''t have happened, but even the tiniest variable can create ripples that, over infinite time, can cause a tsunami," the Ancient One said.


    "What should we do?"


    "Mordo, Wong, keep a close eye on Kaecilius in the coming days. My greatest concern is Dormammu, who exists outside the flow of time. History is most vulnerable to interference from demons unaffected by time."


    "What about Thor? We could assign a team of mages to protect him and find whoever is supposed to kill him..."


    "No need. Some want him dead; others don''t. We just need to keep Odin stable."


    The Ancient One''s expression turned serious. Considering the variables surrounding Strange, she needed to prepare early.


    "Call Dum Dum Dugan. Tell him he''s a once-in-a-century magic prodigy, and I have high hopes for him. He needs to arrange for a large number of clones of himself to continue participating in the ''Ascetic'' selection. The more, the better."

 Chapter 33: Expanding the Army to Expand It Further

    Duncan was unaware of the events unfolding in Kamar-Taj, but he could guess that perhaps the Ancient One was discussing him with Wong and the others.


    He didn''t believe that the Ancient One was oblivious to his existence. After all, she was the Earth''s protector, in possession of the Time Stone, capable of observing countless futures through it.


    "I just wonder if the Ancient One in this universe is the male or female version¡­"


    This thought flashed through Duncan''s mind, and he chuckled softly, quickly dismissing it.


    Regardless of which version of the Ancient One it was, her future was bright¡ªeither returning to the Vishanti or roaming the universe with Eternity.


    This was the advantage of having a powerful backing. Even in death, there was no worry about losing one''s prospects, which allowed her to face life and death with equanimity.


    In contrast, Duncan felt he needed to work even harder. Unlike the Ancient One, who had multiple cosmic-level backings, he had to rely solely on himself.


    "The attempt to use the Xenomorphs to steal black magic has failed, and there won''t be another opportunity like this in the future."


    Duncan placed his hand on the Xenomorph that had burst forth from the black magic, carefully sensing its condition.


    Now, Duncan could only attempt to steal Dormammu''s power. He couldn''t target others because, no matter how enraged Dormammu became, the Ancient One would stand in his way, ensuring there were no dire consequences.


    Moreover, it wasn''t as if Dormammu would give up on devouring Earth even if he weren''t provoked.


    "So, I can abandon the path of magic."


    Duncan muttered this to himself, feeling no disappointment. From the beginning, he hadn''t held much hope for it. Relying on borrowed power was not a sustainable strategy.


    Raven sauntered over, swaying her hips, and placed a steaming cup of water on the table with a loud thud. "Magic? You already possess unique power, yet you still covet magic? I really don''t understand what you''re thinking."


    "Magic is still quite useful. Those sorcerers¡­" Elektra defended Duncan.


    "Oh, listen to who''s talking. Is it a Stockholm syndrome victim who just got captured and is already speaking up for others? Or a rookie who just learned about a place called Kamar-Taj?"


    Elektra''s face twisted in anger. This older woman always knew how to seize every opportunity to mock her.


    "Don''t mind her, Elektra. She''s about the same age as Erik and Charles, but her menopause has been prolonged," Duncan reassured.


    "How heartwarming. You''re really good at comforting people," Raven retorted, clearly irritated, mimicking Elektra''s tone.


    Duncan downed the hot water in one gulp and wiped his mouth with a tissue.


    "It seems you really don''t understand. Of course, it''s not your fault. You only need to focus on the power of the X-gene. I don''t have that luxury."


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    "A man admitting he''s not up to it?"


    "On a small scale, I''m the commander of an army. On a larger scale, I''m the leader of an entire species. That''s the biggest difference between you and me," Duncan said.


    While everyone else was marveling at the wonders and strength of the Xenomorphs, Duncan''s gaze was already fixed on a much more distant future.


    Being enamored with low-level superpowers was a dead end. Who knew when some cosmic entity might appear, wielding power far beyond Duncan''s ability to handle?


    Thus, Duncan had long been quietly formulating a plan to elevate the Xenomorphs.


    To ascend from planetary lifeforms to cosmic lifeforms!


    At the very least, they should be able to survive in the vacuum of space, unlike in the movies where they''d perish upon entering space.


    Admittedly, many famous figures weren''t cosmic lifeforms either¡ªlike Iron Man or Star-Lord. They needed high-tech gear to fight in space.


    But that didn''t stop them from showcasing their talents, and no one dared to look down on them.


    But if there was a chance to elevate the entire species'' life form, why not take it?


    For now, at least, the path of magic was a dead end. Duncan had no intention of basing the Xenomorphs'' ascension on the whims of some cosmic entity.


    "¡­Should I continuously adjust the genetic structure of the entire Xenomorph society? Keep parasitizing and bursting forth until they reach a universal starting point, capable of surviving in all sorts of harsh environments?"


    Like the Kryptonians from another universe, born with the ability to absorb energy from a yellow sun, growing stronger just by basking in sunlight¡ªa power rooted in their racial genes.


    Duncan pondered this deeply, constantly observing the Xenomorphs surrounding him.


    After parasitizing the ten Deviants Magneto had sent over, the total number of Xenomorphs had increased to forty-seven. Of course, that was just the surface count. In the underground caverns, there were still sixty unhatched Xenomorph eggs. If Duncan didn''t issue the command to hatch them, these eggs could remain dormant for over a century without needing any external nutrients!


    It wasn''t that he couldn''t have more Xenomorphs or eggs. Without sufficient top-tier combat power, blindly expanding by parasitizing countless animals would only hasten a united crackdown by Earth''s major forces, which would be detrimental to long-term development.


    "The numbers still aren''t enough. Currently, the only peak combatant is the Abomination Xenomorph, with fifteen Deviant Xenomorphs. The rest are just a bunch of Blood Xenomorphs¡­"


    A wild idea popped into Duncan''s head. By his calculations, it was almost time for Thor to arrive on Earth.


    Thor himself wasn''t what Duncan wanted. Odin wasn''t dead yet, and if Duncan dared to parasitize Thor, it would surely provoke Odin''s wrath.


    Although Duncan often fantasized about Odin''s body¡ªthinking that since Odin would die in a few years anyway, why not let him take advantage of such a prime specimen¡ªOdin was still far beyond his reach for now.


    Duncan realized he needed to think more flexibly, to choose a path with a future, rather than staying on Earth fighting vampires.


    "Let''s see¡­ May 8th, New Mexico. Counting the days¡­ I think it''s time to take action." Duncan made his decision and immediately set his plan in motion.


    Raven was full of questions about Duncan''s actions. In fact, she had never fully understood this man''s secrets. She didn''t know where Duncan got his intelligence, whether he had created the Xenomorphs, or what his next move would be.


    "What are you thinking now? If I were you, I''d stay put, wait for Erik to capture more Deviants, hunt enough vampires, and keep expanding the Xenomorph numbers," Raven couldn''t help but say.


    Even if they only counted the Blood Xenomorphs, Raven couldn''t see the limits of the Xenomorph Queen''s egg-laying capacity or Duncan''s control over the Xenomorphs. Naturally, the more Xenomorphs they had, the better.


    When Duncan only had a few Xenomorphs, people saw him as a mad scientist. When he had dozens, they saw him as a formidable superhuman.


    What if Duncan had hundreds of Xenomorphs?


    Even the weakest Blood Xenomorph far surpassed ordinary humans and weaker mutants in raw power, immune to most firearms, with unparalleled obedience and utility. Once they reached a certain scale, they would be an unimaginable asset to the Brotherhood!


    Imagine every Brotherhood member being assigned one Xenomorph¡ªor even three to five. The boost in power would be terrifying!


    Even Magneto would be tempted.


    Raven''s initial plan of staying by Duncan''s side as a hostage and spy had evolved into trying to win him over.


    But Duncan''s mind was far from Raven''s schemes. He was aware of her intentions but paid them no heed.


    He set out with his army.

 Chapter 34: The Prelude to Madness

    "He''s on the move again. This time, he''s got about forty Xenomorphs with him, including the Abomination Xenomorph. Some vampires are about to have a really bad day!"


    "Duncan has grown to where he is today thanks to vampires! When are those bloodsuckers going to go extinct already?"


    "Soon, soon. The vampires in New York will be wiped out by him eventually."


    It was common knowledge that Duncan had a special fondness for vampires, considering them plentiful and relatively easy to deal with.


    Even though the vampires in various strongholds fought back desperately, at best, they could only kill a few Xenomorphs. Duncan could easily replenish his numbers by capturing more vampires, making him indifferent to such losses.


    Naturally, everyone assumed that Duncan''s latest move was aimed at the vampires and that he would continue to expand his Xenomorph army. This only added to the growing unease.


    "We can''t let this go on. We have no idea what the upper limit is for the number of Xenomorphs! If we let him keep growing his army unchecked, it will be a disaster if it spirals out of control. We need to stop him now, even if it means using force!"


    Fury, having reached his limit, ordered Coulson to contact Duncan for negotiations while preparing to mobilize troops. If Duncan refused to comply, they would resort to a show of force.


    But soon, he received news that Duncan wasn''t targeting vampires this time. Instead, he had boarded a helicopter with his Xenomorphs and was heading to New Mexico.


    "I must be out of my mind to have agreed to provide you with transportation."


    Tony Stark looked at the large number of Xenomorphs and regretted his decision. "Jarvis, scan my brain. Did he mentally manipulate me?"


    "No, sir. Everything is normal."


    "Really? Maybe it''s a subtle form of mental suggestion? Something more insidious than outright control. He can command dozens of Xenomorphs at once¡ªmaybe he''s using some kind of mental influence." Tony was feeling paranoid.


    "Stop overthinking it. Have you dealt with the fallout from killing Ross? I''d rather not visit you in prison," Duncan said through the headset, confident that Tony could hear him.


    "One billion dollars, and they think I might have a problem. Ten billion, and they decide I did nothing wrong. A hundred billion, and they''re convinced I did the world a favor. But there''s no way I''m spending a hundred billion. Those people don''t care about Ross''s life; they care about whether his projects can continue."


    "Let me guess¡ªthe Super Soldier Program? That''s the only explanation for his obsession with chasing the Hulk," Duncan said.


    "Sometimes, I think you''ve read the script in advance. But now, more people want to get in touch with you to incorporate your Xenomorphs into the Super Soldier Program. You probably already guessed¡ªthey''ve asked me to reach out to you." Tony frowned, clearly annoyed.


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    Those in power didn''t believe that Tony and Duncan had a genuine friendship, but they did believe in their financial ties. After all, they had evidence that Tony had transferred money to Duncan, and such relationships were often more reliable than friendships.


    "Lots of people have been trying to contact me. They''ve been waiting for an opportunity."


    "Like this one? You''re leaving, creating a vacuum. Your base is going to attract a lot of unwelcome visitors," Tony Stark warned bluntly.


    Duncan might not be a superhero, but at least, in Tony''s eyes, dealing with someone like Duncan¡ªwho had both ability and potential¡ªwas far better than dealing with SHIELD.


    Duncan didn''t respond, only chuckled softly. The defenses he left behind were strong enough to handle most threats. Even if someone powerful did break in, it wouldn''t matter.


    Because the Queen was already hidden among the forty-plus Xenomorphs accompanying him.


    Asgard, a flat world surrounded by the cosmos, lay quietly in the vast expanse of space.


    "Your recklessness nearly sparked another World Tree War!" Odin''s aged face was filled with anger and disappointment as he glared at his heir.


    "I want war!"


    Thor and Odin were locked in a heated argument. Thor shouted in the grand hall, "Why should we hold back? I have the power to wipe out the Frost Giants! Asgard has the strength to conquer Jotunheim and end all wars within the World Tree! Your most capable son has the power to kill Laufey! I don''t understand why you have time to monitor Midgard and dig up information about the Eternals, but you won''t support your own son!"


    Extreme admiration often breeds extreme resentment.


    Thor didn''t hate Odin, but a son who idolized his father naturally wanted to earn his approval in the way he knew best¡ªthrough strength and conquest. Yet, his reckless actions had only earned him reprimands.


    The relationship between father and son had deteriorated, and Thor felt wronged, a sensitive emotion brewing within him.


    Odin shot a fierce glare at Loki, who stood nearby, and Loki promptly lowered his head, feigning innocence.


    "Are you spying on your father?" Odin''s voice turned icy.


    "I''m keeping an eye on my father! What''s so special about the Eternals? That Midgardian managed to drive one off¡ªI could do the same!" Thor shouted.


    "Did Heimdall tell you? Of course, I never told him to keep such a trivial secret. Just as I never expected my son to use underhanded tactics against me!"


    Loki''s head sank even lower.


    Odin''s expression darkened. Even though he was nearing the end of his life, he was still the All-Father. No one, not even his own son, could speak to him in such a manner, let alone spy on his actions and openly admit it!


    His close monitoring of the Eternals wasn''t for their sake but for the Celestials!


    Over a thousand years ago, he had united all the pantheons of the World Tree to fight against the Celestials, who had come from afar. They had suffered a crushing defeat.


    The Eternals on Earth were created by an immensely powerful Celestial as their emissaries. How could Odin not pay attention? He was too old now, struggling even to bear the weight of his own divine power. If the Celestials returned, he wouldn''t have the strength to fight as he had a millennium ago.


    "Silence, you fool! You understand nothing!" Odin was utterly disappointed. Thor''s recklessness showed he had no grasp of his father''s deeper concerns.


    "You cowardly old man!"


    The moment Thor blurted out those words, he froze.


    The entire hall fell into stunned silence. Everyone stared at Thor in shock, including Loki, who had been subtly stoking the flames. Even he was wide-eyed, unable to believe what his brother had just said.


    This was no joke¡ªThor had just insulted the most revered, powerful, and domineering ruler of the World Tree!


    "I see now. You''re jealous? Jealous that a Midgardian accomplished something you couldn''t, and yet you think brute force is the answer. It seems that a thousand years of teaching and nurturing have turned you into nothing more than a fool who only knows how to solve problems with violence."


    Odin seemed to age several years in that moment. He had been hesitant before, reaching out to the Ancient One as a precaution. But now, his resolve was firm.

 Chapter 35: The Glorious Mortal

    "Foolish, arrogant, jealous¡ªwhat makes you think you deserve to call yourself a god? You are unworthy of this honor! Since you envy that Midgardian so much, I''ll give you the chance to become one. From now on, you will live as a mortal, forever!"


    With his immense divine power, Odin forcibly stripped Thor of his armor and began to drain his godly strength.


    By the time Odin finished speaking, Thor had been reduced to a mere mortal, albeit a strong one.


    In the next moment, Odin shoved Thor into the Bifrost and cast a spell on Mjolnir: "Whosoever holds this hammer, if they be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor."


    With that, he hurled the hammer into the Bifrost, his face still contorted with anger.


    "Father, he''s just blinded by rage. Let me go and bring him back," Loki said, feigning concern while barely concealing his glee.


    Odin glanced at Loki. He knew all too well what his adopted son was thinking.


    "No need. He won''t be coming back."


    "I see. You want him to live as a mortal on Midgard for a while to cool off? That''s a good idea. Once he''s calmed down¡ª"


    "He might not even survive long enough to return to Asgard," Odin said sharply. "Something unusual is happening on Midgard. My only expectation for him now is to survive there."


    Loki was taken aback, his hidden joy evaporating.


    He had always wished for Thor''s downfall, the more miserable the better. But now, someone else dared to harm Thor?


    That was unacceptable. Only he was allowed to mess with Thor, not anyone else! Especially not to the point of threatening Thor''s life!


    "Who on Midgard would dare harm the son of Odin? The Eternals? Do they have the guts?" Loki asked.


    "The Eternals may not have the intention to harm Thor, but their actions aren''t entirely their own. Their sudden resurgence suggests a hidden agenda, and that''s not a good sign," Odin replied.


    The Eternals were tools of the Celestials, placed on Earth. They wouldn''t act without purpose. Every move they made was under Arishem''s direction. Odin knew all too well how terrifying the Celestials could be.


    Loki grew more confused. He wasn''t aware of the war between the World Tree gods and the Celestials, so he couldn''t grasp Odin''s concerns.


    The Eternals? Were they really worth the attention of the mightiest god of the World Tree? Loki had also heard recent news from Heimdall. Look, even on Midgard, some unknown upstart had managed to humiliate an Eternal. That only proved the Eternals weren''t worth worrying about.


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    As for Thor being jealous of that upstart¡ªwell, given Thor''s simple-mindedness, it was entirely possible. Loki could easily imagine Thor''s thought process:


    The Eternals are stealing Father''s attention? Unforgivable!


    And if a mortal defeated an Eternal, doesn''t that make them even more deserving of attention? Even more unforgivable!


    That was Thor''s one-track logic.


    Odin''s expression was icy. "He has been exiled. His life and death are no longer my concern!"


    "But he''s an Asgardian! And what about Mjolnir¡­"


    "If a Midgardian can lift Mjolnir, they will gain the power of Thor. That is the decree and blessing of Odin, the All-Father!" Odin snorted.


    What else could he do? Send Thor to one of the other seven realms? That would be a death sentence. At least on Earth, with the Ancient One watching over things, Thor had a fighting chance.


    Besides, if Thor didn''t go to Earth and learn humility and caution, he would truly be beyond saving.


    Moreover, as the heir to Asgard, if Thor couldn''t endure a little hardship, he didn''t deserve to be the next king of the gods.


    "Midgard, Earth¡­ I''m worried about the Celestials, but what is the Ancient One, who wields the Time Stone, so preoccupied with?" Odin narrowed his eyes.


    During his cross-dimensional communication with the Ancient One, he could sense that her mind was elsewhere.


    He couldn''t figure it out, but after much thought, Odin concluded that as long as no universe-level deity appeared, he had nothing to fear from any enemy below that tier.


    The radiant Bifrost pierced through the cold, silent vacuum of space, carrying the mortal Thor and his hammer to Earth. It landed in New Mexico, leaving behind a complex and mysterious symbol.


    Unfortunately, perhaps due to the small ripples caused by Duncan''s actions, Thor didn''t encounter Jane Foster. As a result, he wasn''t taken to a hospital, and the subsequent chain of events never unfolded.


    Thor landed safely on the ground and immediately began shouting at the sky:


    "Heimdall, open the Bifrost! Take me back!"


    "Heimdall!"


    He shouted until his voice grew hoarse, from night to day and back to night again. Hungry and exhausted, he received no response, which finally filled him with panic.


    Or rather, the fact that Thor, the God of Thunder, could lose his voice was terrifying. It confirmed that he had truly become a mortal, his divine power completely gone.


    Thor decided to find a tavern on Midgard to fill his stomach. A god shouldn''t starve to death in this wretched place.


    He picked a direction and began trudging along the highway.


    He walked for another full day.


    The more he walked, the more bitter and resentful he became. If he still had his hammer, he could have flown. Why walk?


    Was this his father''s way of training his endurance?


    Speaking of which, he had seen his hammer being thrown into the Bifrost with him. He didn''t know where it had landed.


    "If I can just get Mjolnir back, I''ll regain my power!"


    Thor clung to this hope, his last shred of optimism tied to the hammer.


    But he didn''t know that, dozens of kilometers away in a small town, a large group of mortals had already discovered his hammer, sparking a massive event.


    Even hot dog vendors had set up shop, with over a dozen stalls.


    "Move aside! You''re not strong enough. I''ll definitely be able to lift it!"


    "This thing looks like Thor''s hammer from the stories. Could it be real?"


    "Someone brought a pickup truck!"


    "Hot dogs! Get your cheap hot dogs here!"


    The scene was bustling and chaotic.


    It wasn''t just ordinary people who had discovered the hammer and rushed to the scene. SHIELD was there too.


    Even the leader of the Deviants, who had absorbed the powers of the Juggernaut, altered his course and was heading toward the location.